Former No. 8 overall pick Rolando McClain has reportedly secured a conditional reinstatement to the NFL after missing three full seasons, per Pro Football Talk.
Originally selected by the Oakland Raiders during the 2010 NFL Draft, the former Alabama star linebacker showed out well in his first two seasons as a pro. Then, during the 2012 season, he was kicked out of practice, prompting him to take to social media and declare he wanted out of Oakland.
The Raiders granted him his wish, releasing him in April of 2013. McClain signed with the Baltimore Ravens, but before he played a single snap, he announced his retirement. Then, more than a year later, he came back to the league and signed with the Dallas Cowboys, appearing in 23 games between the 2014-15 seasons.
Unfortunately, he was suspended for violating the league’s substances of abuse policy in the summer of 2016. He had been found to be using “purple drank,” which is a combination of the opiate codeine and soda. While suspended, he failed another drug test and was suspended indefinitely.
McClain has been out of the NFL since that point. But after rehabilitating his body and mind, he’s obviously working hard to get back into the league. Given his talent, it would not be surprising if McClain got another chance, provided he is healthy enough to seize the opportunity.
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