Fansided

Dallas Cowboys LB Rolando McClain suspended indefinitely

By Nathaniel Reeves

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Rolando McClain (55) during the game against the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Rolando McClain (55) during the game against the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Cowboys won’t be with Rolando McClain for the foreseeable future, as the linebacker was suspended indefinitely on Friday.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain has been suspended by the NFL indefinitely without pay for violating the league’s policy on substance of abuse, according to a report by NFL.com on Friday afternoon.

McClain has not played this year while serving a ten-game suspension for testing positive for opiates prior to the season. That would have made him eligible to return to the Cowboys on November 21 following the conclusion of Week 11, but the new suspension means McClain won’t be playing anytime soon.

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported two weeks ago that McClain was facing the suspension for a missed drug test. Rapoport goes on to say that Dallas is planning to keep McClain on the reserve/did not report list, meaning he will not count towards the Cowboys’ roster limit.

Following an outstanding college career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, McClain was selected eighth overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2010 NFL Draft. McClain struggled in Oakland while clashing with the coaching staff, and was waived in April of 2013.

After a brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens and subsequent short-lived retirement, the Cowboys acquired McClain for a sixth round pick. McClain finally lived up to his potential with a strong season in 2014 to help turn around Dallas’ woeful defense and re-signed with the Cowboys on a pair of separate one-year deals in 2015 and 2016.

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Unfortunately, this is not the first off-the-field incident for McClain. The 27-year-old was arrested in his hometown of Decatur, Alabama three times between 2011 and 2014, and served a four-game suspension to begin the 2015 season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Dallas’ defense ranks fifth in the NFL with just 19 points per game allowed, helping the team to an NFL-best 11-1 record. Hopefully, McClain can get help during his suspension and recapture his 2014 form, as Jerry Jones seems willing to give him another chance.

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