Dallas Cowboys

Has Rolando McClain played his last game for the Dallas Cowboys?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Set to return to the Dallas Cowboys in four more games, will suspended middle linebacker Rolando McClain ever play another snap for America’s Team?

After retiring not once but twice from the NFL before the age of 25, former 2010 first round selection Rolando McClain found new life with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014. But following two drug related suspensions, McClain may have already played his final game in Dallas.

The linebacker out of Alabama was the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders six years ago. After three underwhelming seasons in Oakland, McClain was released and signed with the Baltimore Ravens. But the mercurial linebacker would never play a single snap for the Ravens, instead electing to retire instead.

Following a failed workout for the Ravens in April of 2014, McClain retired again claiming his heart simply wasn’t in it. But a mere three months later, the Cowboys traded for the young linebacker after a phone call from owner and general manager Jerry Jones convinced him to return to the NFL.

What was considered a long shot by many turned out to be a bonafide winner, with McClain recording 81 total tackles, three pass defends, two interceptions and a sack in 13 games. His play filled the void left by linebacker Sean Lee, who had suffered a season-ending injury during OTA’s earlier that year. The Cowboys ended the season with a 12-4 record and their first playoff victory in five years.

With Lee returning the following season, the combination of both McClain and him in the linebacker corps was expected to revitalize the Cowboys struggling defense. Instead, that pairing was delayed due to a four-game suspension levied against Rolando for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Once McClain was able to return to the field, and after he was able to get into game shape, the duo become one of the better linebacker tandems in the NFL in 2015.

This offseason, McClain chose not to attend any volunteer offseason training activities in Dallas, electing to stay at home in Alabama to spend time with his family. When Rolando did arrive for mandatory mini-camp, he did so out of shape and rumored to be as much as 30-pounds overweight according to sources.

Then, a month before Cowboys training camp began the devastating news broke. McClain had been suspended for the first ten games of the regular season due to once again violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Later it was revealed McClain allegedly has an addiction to codeine. The now 27-year old was placed on the reserve/did not report list and did not participate in training camp or during the preseason.

With only four games left before McClain can return to Dallas, some are wondering if the Cowboys are even considering letting the mercurial linebacker back on to their roster. But one insider believes there is a more of a chance they let him play middle linebacker for America’s Team than McClain at this point.

“I think there is a better chance I play for the Cowboys in 2016 than Rolando McClain does,” responded ESPN reporter Todd Archer when as about the linebacker’s return in a mailbag question recently. “What have we heard from Jason Garrett over and over and over again? Accountability. Chemistry. Why would the Cowboys want to add a player who is accountable to no one even if he is athletically gifted? He is suspended for another four games but I think many on the staff and in the locker room have closed the door on McClain’s return.”

The Cowboys signed McClain to a one-year, $4 million deal in March. That included a $750,000 signing bonus. It is believed by some that the team s trying to recoup a portion of those monies and that is the only reason McClain hasn’t been released yet.

But McClain’s replacement, linebacker Anthony Hitchens, hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire in his stead. The third-year player out of Iowa has recorded 25 total tackles in six games. Pro Football Focus ranks Hitchens as one of Dallas’ worst defenders so far this season with low grades in both overall performance (45.3) and run defense (41.5).

Although McClain is seen as a far superior player to Hitchens, it’s seems unlikely that Rolando will play another snap in Dallas. If he does, it’s certainly a short-term stay as the Cowboys used a second round pick to select talented Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith in this year’s NFL Draft. Dallas is hoping Smith is able to return from a devastating knee injury he suffered in January to start for them at middle linebacker next season…if not sooner.