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Horn: How Cowboys will try to deal with Rolando McClain's 4-game suspension
By BARRY HORN Follow @bhorn55 bhorn@dallasnews.com
Staff Writer
Published: 02 July 2015 08:07 PM
Updated: 02 July 2015 08:07 PM
The only certainty about the Cowboys defense that opens the 2015 season in September remains major uncertainty.
On Thursday, the NFL announced that Rolando McClain, the team’s most productive linebacker in 2014, has been suspended for the first four games of the upcoming season because of a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Jasper Brinkley, a free agent acquisition who started 11 games for the Minnesota Vikings last season, worked at McClain’s middle linebacker spot with the starters in minicamp. McClain underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee sometime in April or May.
If not Brinkley, Sean Lee, the starting middle linebacker who missed the 2014 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and was expected to play outside this season, could fill in. Another candidate would be Anthony Hitchens, a third-year pro who backed up McClain last season and was expected to battle Kyle Wilber for the linebacker spot on the other side of McClain.
Still looming is a decision in the appeal of a 10-game suspension for Greg Hardy, the pass rushing specialist at defensive end signed in the offseason who violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy while a member of the Carolina Panthers. The Cowboys signed him in advance of the NFL draft.
A Cowboys spokesman said team officials, including owner Jerry Jones, executive vice president Stephen Jones or Jason Garrett, the coach, were vacationing on the eve of the July 4 weekend and unavailable for comment about McClain’s situation.
McClain, when able to play last season, had nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, once sack, one forced fumble and five quarterback pressures. He missed three regular season games because of knee and groin injuries along with an illness. Concussion-like symptoms limited his playing time in the playoffs.
Now McClain will miss the season opener against the New York Giants and subsequent games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. He would return against the New England Patriots.
He is, however, eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.
This was the fourth time McClain, 25, failed the NFL’s substance abuse test. His third failed test was reported in early February. That subjected him to a fine.
“I apologize to my family, the Cowboys organization, my teammates and Cowboys fans for my mistake,” McClain was quoted to have said in a statement released by the NFL Players’ Association on Thursday. “I will not break the rules of my profession in the future, and I regret my error. I look forward to returning to the field, when I hope to help my team beat the Patriots.”
Last season was his first with the Cowboys after a checkered career with the Oakland Raiders that ended with his retirement after the 2012 season.
He joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, retired twice, and was traded to the Cowboys on July 1, 2014 after Lee suffered his injury.
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If I ran things, I find a way to get my best three LBers out there....even if it means Lee in the middle again.
Without seeing what's going on, I just think they need to keep their options open.
I don't think just rolling with Brinkley in the middle is the right thing. He is not all that great in coverage and honestly, the deep middle is a huge responsibility when playing in Marinelli's system.
If the best combo has Lee in the middle, do it.
By BARRY HORN Follow @bhorn55 bhorn@dallasnews.com
Staff Writer
Published: 02 July 2015 08:07 PM
Updated: 02 July 2015 08:07 PM
The only certainty about the Cowboys defense that opens the 2015 season in September remains major uncertainty.
On Thursday, the NFL announced that Rolando McClain, the team’s most productive linebacker in 2014, has been suspended for the first four games of the upcoming season because of a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Jasper Brinkley, a free agent acquisition who started 11 games for the Minnesota Vikings last season, worked at McClain’s middle linebacker spot with the starters in minicamp. McClain underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee sometime in April or May.
If not Brinkley, Sean Lee, the starting middle linebacker who missed the 2014 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and was expected to play outside this season, could fill in. Another candidate would be Anthony Hitchens, a third-year pro who backed up McClain last season and was expected to battle Kyle Wilber for the linebacker spot on the other side of McClain.
Still looming is a decision in the appeal of a 10-game suspension for Greg Hardy, the pass rushing specialist at defensive end signed in the offseason who violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy while a member of the Carolina Panthers. The Cowboys signed him in advance of the NFL draft.
A Cowboys spokesman said team officials, including owner Jerry Jones, executive vice president Stephen Jones or Jason Garrett, the coach, were vacationing on the eve of the July 4 weekend and unavailable for comment about McClain’s situation.
McClain, when able to play last season, had nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, once sack, one forced fumble and five quarterback pressures. He missed three regular season games because of knee and groin injuries along with an illness. Concussion-like symptoms limited his playing time in the playoffs.
Now McClain will miss the season opener against the New York Giants and subsequent games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. He would return against the New England Patriots.
He is, however, eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.
This was the fourth time McClain, 25, failed the NFL’s substance abuse test. His third failed test was reported in early February. That subjected him to a fine.
“I apologize to my family, the Cowboys organization, my teammates and Cowboys fans for my mistake,” McClain was quoted to have said in a statement released by the NFL Players’ Association on Thursday. “I will not break the rules of my profession in the future, and I regret my error. I look forward to returning to the field, when I hope to help my team beat the Patriots.”
Last season was his first with the Cowboys after a checkered career with the Oakland Raiders that ended with his retirement after the 2012 season.
He joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, retired twice, and was traded to the Cowboys on July 1, 2014 after Lee suffered his injury.
------------------
If I ran things, I find a way to get my best three LBers out there....even if it means Lee in the middle again.
Without seeing what's going on, I just think they need to keep their options open.
I don't think just rolling with Brinkley in the middle is the right thing. He is not all that great in coverage and honestly, the deep middle is a huge responsibility when playing in Marinelli's system.
If the best combo has Lee in the middle, do it.
