The Dallas Cowboys knew they were taking a chance when they sent a sixth-round draft pick to Baltimore for middle linebacker Rolando McClain, and there is no question that risk paid off in a huge way when McClain ended up being a huge part of the Cowboys' defensive turnaround in 2014.
Now a free agent, McClain isn't exactly helping his case, whether he re-signs with Dallas or tries to land a contract somewhere else after a nice season in Dallas to help rebuild his value after he'd flaked out and retired twice before the age of 25 from both Oakland and Baltimore. He finished second on the Cowboys last season with 81 tackles in just 12 games in the regular season.
But there's an ESPN report out there that McClain is facing a four-game fine, which is the precursor to a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. The way the rule is written, a player faces the fine after a third violation, and a fourth triggers the four-game suspension.
You have to figure, if a guy is going to rack up three violations, the chances of a fourth a pretty high, meaning McClain's value will take a huge hit if the fine holds up, even though he's appealing the ruling.
