The Sports Xchange

Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff expressed that he “felt like killing everybody” inside the Halas Hall team facility the day before he was cut by the team, according to a police report released Friday.

Ratliff referred to himself as “the devil” and also communicated that he wanted the children of team staff members to die, the Lake Forest (Ill.) police report said.

Ratliff was seen having an animated conversation with general manager Ryan Pace on Oct. 21 while the rest of the players were on the practice field. The exchange reportedly happened after the Bears had asked Ratliff to leave the facility because his frame of mind wasn’t conducive to working and practicing.

Ratliff left and later returned. According to the police report, he returned to pick up his belongings and said he “felt like killing everybody in the building.” He returned again later to pick up his cell phone, which is when he stated he was the devil and wanted staff members’ children to die.

The Bears cut the 34-year-old Ratliff the following day.

Chicago coach John Fox reiterated his comments from earlier this week when quizzed by reporters on Friday.

“We were concerned for the building,” Fox said, “and that’s why the police were called.”

Fox said there weren’t any previous incidents with Ratliff this season. Ratliff did get into a training camp fight with center Will Montgomery but nothing else rated as a concern.

“So I have no direct reasoning to feel anything other than evaluating him as we went forward,” Fox said. “And like I said, prior to that day, there was no issues.”

Linebacker Lamarr Houston expressed hope that Ratliff can get his life back together.

“My concern for him is that he’s able to move forward and not let this hinder the rest of his life,” Houston told reporters. “He’s very young and has a lot of life left to live. You just hope this one incident doesn’t deter his life from where it was headed.”

Ratliff was in his 11th season. He was a four-time Pro Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys and joined the Bears during the 2013 season.