Rolando McClain doesn’t fly to Cowboys’ training camp
By James Dudko
Rolando McClain wasn’t on the Dallas Cowboys chartered flight to Oxnard, California, as the NFC East team prepared to touch down at training camp. The middle linebacker’s status remains unclear.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported McClain’s absence from the charter:
Suspended #Cowboys LB Rolando McClain is not on the team charter to California, and it doesn't appear the team has an explanation. Not good.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 28, 2016
Meanwhile, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News provided some details about McClain’s current roster status:
LB Rolando McClain is not on Cowboys team charter to Oxnard but has not been released. Stay tuned.
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) July 28, 2016
McClain’s absence from the flight goes against recent reports that stated head coach Jason Garrett expected to see him at camp. Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas News revealed how attendance was still anticipated from the player who will miss the first 10 games of the 2016 NFL season while he serves a league-mandated suspension for substance abuse violations.
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In terms of McClain’s immediate future, Hairopoulos also provided this intriguing note on the view from franchise owner Jerry Jones:
"Jones has said that Dallas could keep McClain on the roster to avoid a salary cap hit, though that doesn’t mean McClain would necessarily play for the Cowboys this season."
McClain’s issues are just one more problem for a Dallas defensive front seven set to miss plenty of physicality and talent in the new season. Like McClain, second-year edge-rusher Randy Gregory is also facing drug-related suspensions, penalties that could match those meted out to the man missing from the team’s flight to California, per Rapoport:
My understanding of Randy Gregory's coming suspension is its for 10 games, at least. There is concern on #Cowboys that he may not play again
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 26, 2016
With premier pass-rusher Greg Hardy shown the door after a typically fractious season, the Cowboys lack the tools to create consistent pressure. Yet, McClain’s influence in the running game is likely to be just as sorely missed.
When he’s played, the 6-foot-4, 255-pounder has acted as the thumper at the heart of coordinator Rod Marinelli’s defense. The Cowboys need his bulk since they’re relatively light up front.
Without McClain manning the middle, this defense is going to look ripe for some ground-and-pound football in 2016.
Fortunately, though, the NFC East is far from overflowing with talented and bruising running backs. Yet one look at the Cowboys schedule shows non-divisional games against Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings, Doug Martin and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as Eddie Lacy and the Green Bay Packers.
The Cowboys haven’t done much to cover for McClain’s absence, with Anthony Hitchens and the returning Justin Durant likely to compete in the middle. But the ongoing saga with McClain shows the Cowboys needs to do more to fix their soft middle.