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Cowboys casting an eye toward linebacker Rolando McClain
By Clarence E. Hill Jr. -
chill@star-telegram.com
02/19/2015 11:53 AM
| Updated: 02/19/2015 12:02 PM
INDIANAPOLIS Linebacker Rolando McClain might be the Dallas Cowboys biggest in-house free agent priority not named Dez Bryant or DeMarco Murray.
McClain's return to the football in 2014 was a huge success after sitting out 2013 and being a bust with the Oakland Raiders as a former eighth overall draft pick in 2010.
McClain brought a physical presence to middle linebacker, finishing third on the team in tackles despite playing through knee, groin and shoulder injures that were partially attributed to his time away from the game.
According to vice president Stephen Jones, the Cowboys have no concerns about an on-going arson investigation into a fire that burned McClain's six-bedroom home in Alabama to ground on Dec. 22.
McClain was attempting to sell the home at the time of the fire. It was insured for $1.5 million.
"I have no reason to believe (he was involved)," Jones said. "We follow anything on our players if it is related to them. But I have no reason to believe anything was up there other than something happened to his house that wasn’t an accident, according to authorities."
"He’s obviously somebody we’re very interested in having back."
McClain’s journey to Dallas was a winding one.
After being released by Oakland on April 5, 2013, he signed a one-year contract with Baltimore on April 12, but retired from the NFL on May 15 and was out of football for the 2013 season.
McClain was reinstated from the Reserve/Retired list on April 14, 2014, but abruptly retired again on April 23.
After being traded to Dallas, McClain was reinstated and participated in training camp and the preseason with the Cowboys where he finished fifth on the defense with 11 tackles and a forced fumble.
After a strong performance in the preseason, he earned the starting job at middle linebacker and finished with a career-high 108 tackles.
By Clarence E. Hill Jr. -
chill@star-telegram.com
02/19/2015 11:53 AM
| Updated: 02/19/2015 12:02 PM
INDIANAPOLIS Linebacker Rolando McClain might be the Dallas Cowboys biggest in-house free agent priority not named Dez Bryant or DeMarco Murray.
McClain's return to the football in 2014 was a huge success after sitting out 2013 and being a bust with the Oakland Raiders as a former eighth overall draft pick in 2010.
McClain brought a physical presence to middle linebacker, finishing third on the team in tackles despite playing through knee, groin and shoulder injures that were partially attributed to his time away from the game.
According to vice president Stephen Jones, the Cowboys have no concerns about an on-going arson investigation into a fire that burned McClain's six-bedroom home in Alabama to ground on Dec. 22.
McClain was attempting to sell the home at the time of the fire. It was insured for $1.5 million.
"I have no reason to believe (he was involved)," Jones said. "We follow anything on our players if it is related to them. But I have no reason to believe anything was up there other than something happened to his house that wasn’t an accident, according to authorities."
"He’s obviously somebody we’re very interested in having back."
McClain’s journey to Dallas was a winding one.
After being released by Oakland on April 5, 2013, he signed a one-year contract with Baltimore on April 12, but retired from the NFL on May 15 and was out of football for the 2013 season.
McClain was reinstated from the Reserve/Retired list on April 14, 2014, but abruptly retired again on April 23.
After being traded to Dallas, McClain was reinstated and participated in training camp and the preseason with the Cowboys where he finished fifth on the defense with 11 tackles and a forced fumble.
After a strong performance in the preseason, he earned the starting job at middle linebacker and finished with a career-high 108 tackles.