Dallas Cowboys Player Rolando McClain Absent on Team Charter to Oxnard
As if the Cowboys haven't had their fill of disappointment this off-season, their source of many frustrations, veteran linebacker Rolando McClain, added to his antics on Thursday.
The Cowboys charter took off for Oxnard, California on Thursday for the true start to the 2016 NFL season, training camp.
Not on the team flight? Rolando McClain.
Many fans and loyal followers of America's Team may have met the news with excitement, thinking McClain's absence signaled his release from the team.
Wrong.
Rolando McClain's name was on the flight manifest and nary a soul within the Cowboys' organization was given even an inkling of an explanation as to why he wouldn't be in attendance.
So with this in mind, let's briefly go over the baggage McClain has brought to the Cowboys just since the end of the 2015 season.
For the second straight year, a failed drug test in the off-season landed McClain a suspension to start the upcoming season per the NFL's substance abuse policy. Last year it was a four-game suspension. And this year as a repeat offender, McClain will miss 10 games.
There's more.
Rolando made news in June when he skipped out on OTAs to attend what he called a family matter in Alabama. However, it should be noted that McClain's "family matter" never surfaced as anything more than him spending time with his children.
I'm not one to spit on the importance of family time, but McClain is not the only Cowboy with children in other states. However, only McClain and guard Ronald Leary decided to skip the voluntary workouts that are more or less not so voluntary. Leary was beefing over playing time and held out in hopes of a trade.
When McClain did finally report to Valley Ranch for the last week of OTA's he was overweight and grossly out of shape.
Does Rolando McClain want to be a Dallas Cowboy -- or even an NFL football player for that matter? Furthermore, why are the Cowboys still allowing him that privilege?
Cap considerations have been the quick and easy explanation Cowboys brass have provided as to why McClain is still on the roster. I would argue it's worth the $750,000 cap hit to field a team entirely comprised of players who actually want to be there.
If McClain doesn’t report to camp by 2 p.m. PT on Friday then he will be subject to a fine. Here's to hoping the Cowboys bypass the fine and serve him his outright release.