- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 120,043
Cowboys finally get help with returns of Greg Hardy, Rolando McClain
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- So far this season the Dallas Cowboys have had nothing but losses in big-time personnel with Dez Bryant, Tony Romo, Randy Gregory, Lance Dunbar and Sean Lee.
Monday, they actually get some reinforcements as defensive end Greg Hardy and linebacker Rolando McClain return from four-game suspensions. The players are off Monday, so the first on-field action for Hardy and McClain will come Tuesday when the Cowboys have an afternoon walk-through. Their first full practice will come Wednesday.
Hardy was suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy; McClain was suspended for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, but unlike Hardy was able to continue to work out at the Cowboys’ Valley Ranch facility and take part in meetings.
The Cowboys will receive one-week roster exemptions for both players, but they are expected to play Sunday against the New England Patriots, which would require the team to free up two roster spots. One could come from the likely season-ending knee injury Dunbar suffered in the overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints Sunday night.
The returns of Hardy and McClain could not come at a better time for the Cowboys.
Hardy brings the Cowboys some much-needed pass rush with 27 sacks in his past 32 games. The Cowboys had a season-high three sacks in the Saints loss but were unable to get close to Drew Brees late in the game.
“I can’t wait,” defensive end Jeremy Mincey said of Hardy’s return.
With Lee having suffered a concussion Sunday, McClain’s return is huge, especially if Lee is unable to pass the mandated protocol to play against the Patriots. In 12 games last season McClain was credited by the coaches with 108 tackles, but he took part in only a limited part of the Cowboys’ offseason program because of knee surgery and was on the physically unable to perform list for almost all of training camp.
The Cowboys believe McClain will be ready to go quickly and has made good progress in his rehab while on suspension.
“The players that are out there, the guys that we’re asking to step up, they shouldn’t be as good as the ones they’re replacing, but they’re playing hard and competing,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “And I’m proud of that. Really proud of that. Our coaching staff deserves credit for how hard they’re playing.”
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- So far this season the Dallas Cowboys have had nothing but losses in big-time personnel with Dez Bryant, Tony Romo, Randy Gregory, Lance Dunbar and Sean Lee.
Monday, they actually get some reinforcements as defensive end Greg Hardy and linebacker Rolando McClain return from four-game suspensions. The players are off Monday, so the first on-field action for Hardy and McClain will come Tuesday when the Cowboys have an afternoon walk-through. Their first full practice will come Wednesday.
Hardy was suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy; McClain was suspended for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, but unlike Hardy was able to continue to work out at the Cowboys’ Valley Ranch facility and take part in meetings.
The Cowboys will receive one-week roster exemptions for both players, but they are expected to play Sunday against the New England Patriots, which would require the team to free up two roster spots. One could come from the likely season-ending knee injury Dunbar suffered in the overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints Sunday night.
The returns of Hardy and McClain could not come at a better time for the Cowboys.
Hardy brings the Cowboys some much-needed pass rush with 27 sacks in his past 32 games. The Cowboys had a season-high three sacks in the Saints loss but were unable to get close to Drew Brees late in the game.
“I can’t wait,” defensive end Jeremy Mincey said of Hardy’s return.
With Lee having suffered a concussion Sunday, McClain’s return is huge, especially if Lee is unable to pass the mandated protocol to play against the Patriots. In 12 games last season McClain was credited by the coaches with 108 tackles, but he took part in only a limited part of the Cowboys’ offseason program because of knee surgery and was on the physically unable to perform list for almost all of training camp.
The Cowboys believe McClain will be ready to go quickly and has made good progress in his rehab while on suspension.
“The players that are out there, the guys that we’re asking to step up, they shouldn’t be as good as the ones they’re replacing, but they’re playing hard and competing,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “And I’m proud of that. Really proud of that. Our coaching staff deserves credit for how hard they’re playing.”
