Rolando McClain suspended first four regular-season

[Idgit]

Ridiculous.

I have more faith in the locker room and culture that Garrett has cultivated for this team. We don't NEED to cut Ro to send a message. And keeping Ro isn't going to send a "bad" message. We aren't that kind of team.

Anyone who's worried that keeping Ro is going to have some detrimental impact on the young players of this team is oblivious to the identity that this team has. It's literally the last thing I'm worried about.

Fans are so emotional.

This is not a reason to cut him. It's a perfect reason to never extend him. You simply can't trust the guy to stay clean for a long term contract, so he's automatically year to year from here on out. And not just in Dallas. You can point to his position and basically say 'this is the guy you need to beat, good luck.' When you get another player who you can trust and how can outplay him or nearly outplay him, he's gone.

Otherwise he's too good. If he's an issue in the locker room, that's another matter. If he's discontented with never getting another long term deal, that's another matter. But as long as he's as good as he is and can come in and outperform everybody not named 'Sean' on game day, he's probably going to have a spot on the roster.

And the same group that want him gone is mostly the same group that complains about the talent on the team, overall. That's because both of those complaints are primarily emotional reactions to what's really going on with the roster and it's a lot easier to solve a problem by removing it than it is by carefully treating the symptoms in the first place.

 

[Idgit]

Understood. On the other hand you have to wonder what the net effect of keeping a player who had 10 different reasons not to practice most of the season last year, who seemingly doesn't put the team ahead of his own personal vices, and in general seems to be a bit of a loose cannon is for the young players on the defense like Gregory, Jones, etc.

It's exactly those kinds of reasons that basically 31 other teams choose not to sign Ro last season and only the Cowboys even made him an offer this season.

In general, I think it's easy to ignore the "halo effect" of a player's off the field actions.

What we really don't know is how he is as a teammate. I had thought the players loved the viciousness that he brings to that LB corps and kid of fed off of it. And I'm still confused about his practice habits because, while he definitely misses way too many practices in season, even Rod Marinelli talks about how focused he is in practice and that the likes to be there. And Rod's not one I'd think would generally play hide the pea on a player to the media.

And, while I agree with you that you have to handle potentially toxic personalities very carefully and that McClain might be one of those toxic sorts, he's also a nearly perfect object lesson of what not to do if you're a young player with all the talent in the world. He's knuckle heading himself out of the league while demonstrating a world of talent on Sundays. That's really, really hard to do, and he's somehow doing it. It could be that Gregory takes a look at that and nopes the heck out of some of those same situations as a direct result.

 

[JohnsKey19]

McClain is a huge loss for the Cowboys with him gone for 4 games and Hardy suspended for 10 games as it stands now the defense could get off to a rough start in 2015. I know some will say at least the Cowboys will have Lee back but with his injury history for how long? It's going to take time for Gregory and Jones to acclimate themselves to the NFL the Cowboys might want to take a look at Lance Briggs.

If Lee makes it to Week 1 and is himself, the LB corps will be fine. Marinelli has an entire training camp to figure out how to piece together the LB corps. They have enough solid vets who can step in as needed. If Lee goes down or isn't himself returning from injury, then I would be concerned

 

[Denim Chicken]

I've been busy lately, has anything come out on what substance he was suspended for?

 

[Proximo]

Fans are so emotional.

This is not a reason to cut him. It's a perfect reason to never extend him. You simply can't trust the guy to stay clean for a long term contract, so he's automatically year to year from here on out. And not just in Dallas. You can point to his position and basically say 'this is the guy you need to beat, good luck.' When you get another player who you can trust and how can outplay him or nearly outplay him, he's gone.

Otherwise he's too good. If he's an issue in the locker room, that's another matter. If he's discontented with never getting another long term deal, that's another matter. But as long as he's as good as he is and can come in and outperform everybody not named 'Sean' on game day, he's probably going to have a spot on the roster.

And the same group that want him gone is mostly the same group that complains about the talent on the team, overall. That's because both of those complaints are primarily emotional reactions to what's really going on with the roster and it's a lot easier to solve a problem by removing it than it is by carefully treating the symptoms in the first place.

I agree with all of these statements.

For whatever reason, I allow myself to get overly annoyed by the folks who are immediately calling for him to be cut as a result of the current situation.

There's this idea that keeping him "sends a bad message", and swiftly cutting him will "send a good message". I call 100% BS on that. The culture in THIS team's locker room is too good for that malarkey.

The fact that Ro is on a garbage contract is a strong enough message to the young bucks. And not only that, EVERYONE knows that Ro has been hanging by a string ever since he got here. This team is NOT tied to him long term and is NOT invested in him, at all. If the young bucks see anything, it's that Ro is where he's at, and for good reason.

And yes, I'll also emphasize your statement that, by all accounts, despite his faults, Ro is a very good teammate and has the respect of his peers, no doubt.

Bottom line, cutting him now would be dumb.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Fans are so emotional.

This is not a reason to cut him. It's a perfect reason to never extend him. You simply can't trust the guy to stay clean for a long term contract, so he's automatically year to year from here on out. And not just in Dallas. You can point to his position and basically say 'this is the guy you need to beat, good luck.' When you get another player who you can trust and how can outplay him or nearly outplay him, he's gone.

Otherwise he's too good. If he's an issue in the locker room, that's another matter. If he's discontented with never getting another long term deal, that's another matter. But as long as he's as good as he is and can come in and outperform everybody not named 'Sean' on game day, he's probably going to have a spot on the roster.

And the same group that want him gone is mostly the same group that complains about the talent on the team, overall. That's because both of those complaints are primarily emotional reactions to what's really going on with the roster and it's a lot easier to solve a problem by removing it than it is by carefully treating the symptoms in the first place.

Sean who?

 

[Proximo]

Sean who?

C'mon man.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

C'mon man.

Not like he can be relied on

 

[Proximo]

Not like he can be relied on

Nobody's talking about his reliability. Just referencing the fact that WHEN HE IS OUT THERE he is our best linebacker.

So yea, c'mon man.

 

[SuspectCorner]

I like McClain the player but this is very disappointing news. I wish he would find a way to keep his off-field behavior within the NFL guidelines for conduct but he has to want this career enough to avoid the stupid decisions. He knew he was already under scrutiny. Those of us who were backing the guy are pretty much out of excuses for him by now. The next straw will be the last one for me.

 

[lane]

I like McClain the player but this is very disappointing news. I wish he would find a way to keep his off-field behavior within the NFL guidelines for conduct but he has to want this career enough to avoid the stupid decisions. He knew he was already under scrutiny. Those of us who were backing the guy are pretty much out of excuses for him by now. The next straw will be the last one for me.

Yea, it would have been fun to watch him and Lee play together...assuming they both stayed healthy of course.

But it would have been fun for sure.

 

[SuspectCorner]

What a bonehead. Hopefully, Randy Gregory isn't the same type of bonehead.

Hopefully Gregory has the snap to view McClain's of-late behavior as the cautionary tale that it really is.

 

[chris1995]

Hopefully Gregory has the snap to view McClain's of-late behavior as the cautionary tale that it really is.

Yes, it would be nice to see something good come out of this mess.

 

[chris1995]

Oh, there's definitely people with weed addictions, I know of atleast 5 myself (weed is very prevalent here in BC, Canada). But the people I know (not necessarily friends) also don't have a multi million dollar contract on the line, I mean, you have to be able to handle your demons for 10 years then do whatever you want after you retire

Yeah, the 10-12 years after a player is drafted is money time.

 

[justbob]

What a great time to return to the thread.

 

[Redball Express]

Well not a defender , but I would not say cut him over this.
With his knee surgery recently, it might be good he sits 4 early games.

Plus it depends on what they have to pay him and what all was in his contract.
This may mean they pay him less on incentives.
If a certain amount was G then better to keep him.
They just need to work closely with him.

I would still try to play him this year and depending how it goes dont have him back next year.
He sounds like he is bi-polar , and needs a shrink and some meds.

I think the meds are his problem.

He seems to self-medicate with smoking pot.

So unless he gets signed by Denver where pot has been legalized..

he's got a career ending injury coming from the weed addiction as he will just keep failing.

Sorry for him since football seems to be his only path to a better life.

 

[big dog cowboy]

What a great time to return to the thread.

Looks like I just missed out on the show.

 

[JDSmith]

I think the meds are his problem.

He seems to self-medicate with smoking pot.

So unless he gets signed by Denver where pot has been legalized..

he's got a career ending injury coming from the weed addiction as he will just keep failing.

Sorry for him since football seems to be his only path to a better life.

Still can't smoke it and play for the NFL. If you could Denver would have free agents beating down their door for a chance to sign.

 

[DandyDon52]

Still can't smoke it and play for the NFL. If you could Denver would have free agents beating down their door for a chance to sign.

lol, yeah they would have a lot of players wanting to play for them!
Sadly the truth is if a player liked smoking pot, Denver would be a bad place to live and play, because it would be all around you, but taboo for you.

 

[DandyDon52]

I think the meds are his problem.

He seems to self-medicate with smoking pot.

So unless he gets signed by Denver where pot has been legalized..

he's got a career ending injury coming from the weed addiction as he will just keep failing.

Sorry for him since football seems to be his only path to a better life.

I think he is still a multi-mllionaire, from the $ he made in oakland. He had 20 mil G ?
So he isnt broke, and does not blow alot of $.
Jerry told him that wont last forever and he should make more while he could.

So He likes to do what he wants when he wants, and that comes into play with the pot .
Pot is also good for pain and he had the knee scoped, not sure how painful that is.

But dez and Ro, I really dont care , will just wait and see if and how they play this fall.