BLUE 1,026 Posted July 1, 2014 Per Rotoworld.com: Ravens traded ILB Rolando McClain and a seventh-round pick to the Cowboys for a sixth-round pick. Desperation in the wake of Sean Lee's ACL tear strikes. McClain was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 draft, but has "retired" twice in the last 15 months while saying his "heart pulls" him away from football. He's also been arrested three times since December of 2011. Now likely in need of money, McClain reportedly wants to play again. He lands in a spot with plenty of opportunity, as Lee's injury left an already thin defense on life support. If the 24-year-old McClain is actually motivated and in shape, he'll have a chance to get in the starting middle linebacker mix along with Justin Durant, Anthony Hitchens and DeVonte Holloman. The meager compensation leaves the Cowboys with little risk. Jul 1 - 4:29 PM Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted July 1, 2014 Trading for a retired guy, Seems legit. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glanvilles Grits 142 Posted July 1, 2014 His "heart pulls" him away from football? More like the ghetto pulls him from football. The guy is a thug, not sure anyone can change that at this point in his short career. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted July 2, 2014 Yea I coulda sworn he retired... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted July 2, 2014 lolcowboys. Burning a draft pick on McClain, even a 6th rounder is utterly retarded. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
56AceInDaPlace 110 Posted July 2, 2014 McClain will still be back to play before Derrick Rose. Seriously though, least when he plays hes better then Blaine Gabbert. Jags got a pick for him and hes terrible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted July 2, 2014 if they can get him on the field he's better than any of their other options at this point Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025 Posted July 2, 2014 @chucksmithnfl · 3h The Cowboys trade for Rolando McClain, will come out of retirement> Worst attitude of any player I ever met when consulting. #Oakland yikes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted July 2, 2014 You can tell they are desperate for a Sean Lee replacement. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mathias 394 Posted July 2, 2014 Rod Marinelli will probably step on his throat and make him a decent player this year. He made George fucking Selvie productive, he can do it with McClain. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Omerta+ 1,206 Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) Haha, yeah...if this were for more than a sixth I would laugh my ass off at the cowboys, but seeing as it is a sixth I will just give a wry smile. Dude won't pay anymore, at least in any capacity that is worth while. Edited July 2, 2014 by Ngata_Chance Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theMileHighGuy 656 Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) I would sign every UDFA backer there is before letting Mcclain step foot in my building lol. At the very least you would get a player that wants to be there and wants to be part of football. I bet he doesn't make it to September. Edited July 2, 2014 by theMileHighGuy 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted July 2, 2014 Rod Marinelli will probably step on his throat and make him a decent player this year. He made George fucking Selvie productive, he can do it with McClain. You can't really be this delusional can you? lol 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014 Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) They turned a 6th round pick into a 7th; they didn't lose a pick. He is a piece of shit, but when he decides to try, he's actually pretty good. They're in dire straits at LB and McClain could fill that void if they can make him give a shit. It's a gamble, one I'm not sure I'd have made, but moving down from the 6th to the 7th is not going to cripple their franchise, lol. Edited July 2, 2014 by Zack_of_Steel 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mathias 394 Posted July 2, 2014 You can't really be this delusional can you? lol How is that in any way delusional? Was George Selvie not a decent player last season? Why couldn't McClain be? I trust in Rod Marinelli. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Omerta+ 1,206 Posted July 2, 2014 They turned a 6th round pick into a 7th; they didn't lose a pick. He is a piece of shit, but when he decides to try, he's actually pretty good. They're in dire straits at LB and McClain could fill that void if they can make him give a shit. It's a gamble, one I'm not sure I'd have made, but moving down from the 6th to the 7th is not going to cripple their franchise, lol. He is good when he tries, you really cant argue that. With that being said though, he has been removed from football for two years and failed his conditioning test for the Ravens miserably, he could not even finish it. That is extremely worrisome, but as you pointed out it is not like a lost 6th will cripple a franchise. As to the whole heart being in it thing, who knows. Most players imo dont play for the love, but the money. So that is what it is. This is even if he comes out of retirement for certain. I would say high risk high reward but it is a 6th so it is not like it is exactly high risk. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted July 2, 2014 accidental + not that I really disagree with Mathias but idk why this kid, lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted July 2, 2014 How is that in any way delusional? Was George Selvie not a decent player last season? Why couldn't McClain be? I trust in Rod Marinelli. Um, I don't really see where the comparison applies. As has been pointed out, McClain hasn't played a down in the NFL in two years. He failed the Ravens conditioning test. Marinelli is inarguably one of the top defensive coaches in the game, but what's he going to do with a guy who'd rather run the streets than be on the field. Even if by some miracle the Cowboys can get him into playing shape, is this really the kind of guy you want to bring in your locker room? He's been a problem everywhere he's been and that's not just the NFL. The Cowboys have been underachieving for almost a decade now. They need to be bringing in high character guys to change the culture. I mean, say the guy becomes a starter and you start to count on him, he's one step away from a lengthy suspension. They didn't give up much, but not many people get a second chance in the NFL after the shit he's pulled and he CLEARLY takes that for granted and does not give a fuck. This move is stupid as fuck and if you think otherwise then you're either a homer or fucking moron. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mathias 394 Posted July 2, 2014 You seem utterly rattled, sean. Low risk high reward here. Period. My bet is that he becomes a decent player. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BC 331 Posted July 3, 2014 Even a roster spot is too expensive to spend on this guy. He isn't going to care enough to make an impact. The only thing motivating him is money, but once he has enough to pay rent he's going to stop caring about his job. I can't recall this type of experiment working on anybody else in the past... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted July 3, 2014 Even a roster spot is too expensive to spend on this guy. He isn't going to care enough to make an impact. The only thing motivating him is money, but once he has enough to pay rent he's going to stop caring about his job. I can't recall this type of experiment working on anybody else in the past... you do realize the roster is 90 guys right now, right? that means that there are 2880 potential spots on NFL rosters, sure he may not end up on the 53 man roster (though I'm guessing he will if he comes back) but saying a guy isn't worth a roster spot this time of year is asinine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted July 3, 2014 You seem utterly rattled, sean. Low risk high reward here. Period. My bet is that he becomes a decent player. Bringing a guy like this into your locker room to a team that has been underachieving since like '06 or '07 is just adding to an existing problem. It could end up costing your more than a swap of picks. Not everything is football is as quantifiable as as the value of draft picks. Team chemistry and culture can end up being just as important as talent It's hard to make it to the NFL without talent, let alone stay in the NFL. Most every player on the field Sunday's has some talent but unless you understand what your job is and are willing to do what it takes to execute it better than the guy across from you then you're probably not going to make it very far. A lot of times players like that have a real negative influence on your team because they make friends on the team and start to get them to act a little or sometimes a lot douchier. It's not just the NFL either. A lot of us who played HS ball, played with a guy like this. I was a guy like that tbh when I played. I cared more about getting high/drunk and than football or grades for that matter and I didn't respect some of my coaches as much as I should have. I doubt he makes the roster tbh but still. Acting as though this is a good move in any way shape or form is at best overly optimistic and at worst completely moronic. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mathias 394 Posted July 3, 2014 You're making way too big a deal about this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Turry 755 Posted July 3, 2014 The draft pick the Ravens acquired for ILB Rolando McClain will escalate from a seventh- to sixth-round selection in 2015 if McClain plays 50 percent or more of the Cowboys' 2014 defensive snaps. Baltimore would also send Dallas its 2015 seventh-round pick. If McClain spends five games on the Cowboys' 53-man roster this season, the sides will swap 2016 (not 2015) seventh-rounders. If the Ravens finish with a worse 2014 record, "then there is no swap." In other words, Dallas didn't give up much. Baltimore will hope McClain plays a lot this year, and that the Cowboys are bad. (Those latter two possibilities could very conceivably go hand in hand.) Related: Ravens Source: ESPN Dallas Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
