Five months ago Rolando McClain looked like a man who had no desire to play football anymore. Now, McClain is on the cusp of not only playing football for the Dallas Cowboys, but lining up as their starting middle linebacker.
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Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli let out the news on Thursday after McClain ran with the ones in practice.
Rod Marinelli says rolando McClain will likely start at MLB Sunday vs 49ers
— Nick Eatman (@nickeatman) September 4, 2014
In April, McClain cut short a comeback attempt with the Baltimore Ravens by announcing that he was once again retiring. An injury to Sean Lee prompted the Cowboys to take a shot with McClain, who answered the call and appears to have at least temporarily resurrected his desire to play football.
It was a career that looked to be well and truly over after the latest retirement. McClain last played in the NFL in 2012 and between then and now has been arrested three times.
McClain looked to be on his way to a dominating run after being drafted by the Raiders eighth overall out of Alabama, but personal problems cropped up and McClain quickly fell from potential superstar to enigmatic wash-out.
After several retirements and unretirements, plus those arrests, it seemed McClain would forever remain a case of untapped potential, but now he’s getting another chance.
Will McClain make the most of this opportunity or will his personal demons overwhelm him again? That’s something we’ll have to wait to find out.