New DT Austin Gets Ratliff's Old Number, Locker

Marvin Austin was signed by the Cowboys earlier this week

Recently signed defensive tackle Marvin Austin isn’t stepping into recently released defensive tackle Jay Ratliff’s shoes. But he is wearing Ratliff’s old number and settling into Ratliff’s old locker at Valley Ranch.

If Austin is even close to as good as Ratliff was in his prime, the Cowboys would be thrilled. Fortunately, the team has arguably the best defensive line coach in the league working for them in Rod Marinelli--who has spent the year winning games with a patchwork group of “no-names.”

His track record speaks for itself, and coach [Monte] Kiffin’s also,” Austin said, per ESPN Dallas. “The way those guys coach and the success they’ve had in this league, I mean, I have no excuses.”

Step one for Austin: Get back into fighting shape. Austin remarked that he still has some work to do in that area after undergoing what he described as the “realest” practice he’s ever been a part of.

“Not good enough,” Austin said of his conditioning. “To be honest with you, just the way they practice and the way they want you to go out there and play, I’ve got to keep working every day to get in shape to go out there and perform.”

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