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Will Rolando McClain get a deal with the Dallas Cowboys?

By Stephen Forsha

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I’m rooting for Rolando McClain, even in what looks to be not the best of times for the free agent linebacker, whether he stays with the Dallas Cowboys or not.

Various media outlets, including ESPN Dallas-Ft. Worth, are reporting the middle linebacker McClain has violated the NFL’s substance abuse policy, causing what would be a four-game suspension to start the 2015 season.

The ESPN Dallas article states:

"“The fine could affect the type of contract McClain receives even if it will not keep him off the field to start the 2015 season. The sources said McClain is appealing the fine. According to the league’s new substance abuse policy, a player is fined for a third failed test. Another failed test would be a four-game suspension.”"

So this would be the fourth failed test for McClain, right?

ESPN Insider Adam Schefter tweeted this on Saturday:

Either way, this is tough to hear, no matter what team he plays for, because he’s had a rough go of things for the past year away from the football field and he’s just 25 years old.

Though this is yet another setback in his career (he’s already retired twice), and he’s had some struggles in his life this past year (his house burnt down due to arson), we still have to ask: where does this leave his current contract situation?

There is still a chance the Cowboys re-sign him, but this failed test will only hurt his chances at a better deal than the one he had this past season with the Cowboys, who finished 13-5, winning one playoff game in ’14.

Yes, his football career is important, but this is a story about a 25-year-old who is going down a rocky patch, and it seems with this pending four-game suspension, he might be throwing away his NFL career if he continues to fail substance abuse tests.

Being around the same age as McClain, it just isn’t fun to see when athletes and other celebrities ruin what is a very good thing they have going for them.

If these failed tests are affecting his personal life (as it already has his professional life), then I honestly hope he gets whatever type of help he needs or wants, because he does have a wealth of talent and it would be quite a shame to see it ruin both parts of his life.

McClain earned $700,000 last season with the Cowboys, replacing Sean Lee on the Cowboys roster after he was injured for the entire season during mini-camp.

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I believe the Cowboys really need a player like McClain on their roster, and if he does, in fact, have to sit out the first four games of the ’15 season, maybe until that suspension he’ll work on repairing whatever seems to be ailing him with the failed test.

Having a player like McClain on their roster was a must for the Cowboys last season, and it showed by the way the defense played. His arrival was perfect for the ’14 Cowboys, because without him on that side of the ball, it is a possibility they don’t make the playoffs.

For the ’14 season, McClain totaled 81 tackles (65 solo), with one sack, coming on Sept. 14 against the Tennessee Titans. He also had two interceptions and one forced fumble in ’14.

The MLB did everything the Cowboys needed him to do this past season, including two games where he had 10 solo tackles against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 4 and the New York Giants on Nov. 23. (Both of those games were on the road.)

McClain has the potential to right all that has gone “wrong” with his NFL path by backing up his play from this past season, though if he continues to fail these types of tests, then he’ll just be remembered as a player who could have had it all, but gave it all away.

Best of luck to McClain, and let’s all hope this is just the final bump in the road before he turns everything around for good.

Next: Dez Bryant, Cowboys need to make a deal

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