By now the story of one Rolando McClain is well known. The former eighth overall pick of the Oakland Raiders has had his fair share of troubles off the field. But after getting his life back on track, the linebacker is looking to make a return to the National Football League.
McClain, who sat out the entire 2013 season after being arrested for disorderly conduct last April, wants to return to the Baltimore Ravens, who he signed with the very same month of that arrest (via WHNT.com).
USA Today: Hopefully for McClain’s sake, his bouts with the law are behind him.
The former Alabama All-American was previously arrested on aggravated assault charges when he was a member of the Raiders back in 2012 (via ESPN.com). That combined with a spat with head coach Dennis Allen spelled doom to McClain’s Raiders career.
Deciding that he needed to get his life in order prior to returning to the NFL, McClain re-enrolled at the University of Alabama (via ESPN.com).
Prior to making that decision public and immediately after his latest arrest, McClain had the following to say…
Clearly, my decision to retire has raised some questions. Quite simply, I love football, but I have decided at this time it is in my best interest to focus on getting my personal life together.
The former first-round bust has been the butt of jokes around the media for quite some time now, and most of that’s due to his own accord. Now that he has seemingly turned the corner in his personal life, the linebacker looks to make a comeback on the NFL stage.
Good for him.
We shouldn’t be in the business of wishing ill-will on others. If McClain is serious about a potential return and has matured off the field, he could be successful in this comeback. After all, there was a reason that Oakland made him a top-10 pick just a few years back.
Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today