Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Rolando McClain has been suspended four games without pay for violating league's substance abuse policy. This is McClain's second failed drug this in the calendar year after being fined four games for failing a previous drug test earlier in the year.
Rolando McClain is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games.
McClain released a statement as soon as the suspension was made public.
“I apologize to my family, the Cowboys organization, my teammates and Cowboys fans for my mistake,” McClain said. “I will not break the rules of my profession in the future, and I regret my error. I look forward to returning to the field on week 5, when I hope to help my team beat the Patriots.”
As noted earlier this isn't the first time Rolando McClain has failed a drug test and has a history of off the field issues and even retired last year before electing to join the Dallas Cowboys. He had his most productive season last year and was arguably the Cowboys best player on defense when he was on the field.
The Dallas Cowboys had planned on playing him and Sean Lee together with McClain manning the middle as a possible deadly 1-2 combo at linebacker. Now Dallas will possibly look at second-year player Anthony Hitchens to play the middle after a promising rookie campaign where he filled in nicely for Rolando McClain when he was injured.
The loss of Rolando McClain is a significant loss for the Cowboys defense with Sean Lee working his way back from a torn ACL and defensive end Greg Hardy still appealing his suspension.
This is the second year in a row where the Cowboys have a player suspended due to a failed drug test, last year it was cornerback Orlando Scandrick.