Rolando McClain released?

[Marqui]

I think Hightower is a guy thats athletic enough to do it.

Yea if Navorro Bowman can cover people then Mayo and Hightower should be able to.

 

[VrabelJr]

McClain can cover with the best of them, but he isn't a leader which is what the Raiders also drafted him to be.

 

[Avenger]

From last year:

Former Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain arrested in Decatur | al.com

Sounds like a great guy.

BB would never sign a guy who allegedly pistolwhipped their sister's boyfriend or punched a cop. The kid is a Saban guy right? I'm sure BB will call and see what he was like in college.

 

[Snake Eyes]

BB would never sign a guy who allegedly pistolwhipped their sister's boyfriend or punched a cop. The kid is a Saban guy right? I'm sure BB will call and see what he was like in college.

How do you know the boyfriend didnt deserve it?

 

[hwc]

Butkis award as the best college linebacker in the country, playing for Nick Saban. I'll keep my antenna up for Belichick sniffin' around on this one. A guy who may have been a bad value for a bad team at #8 overall in the NFL draft, might be a good value for a good team with a 7th round pick or something to trade to a team that wants to get rid of him.

And, hey, he didn't actually shoot the guy, right?

 

[Avenger]

How do you know the boyfriend didnt deserve it?

I'm pretty sure he did indeed deserve it.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

McClain cut apparently

Leaving with such class!

 

[Claremonster]

It's one thing to take in a player who has a load of talent but a bad attitude. McClain has ZERO talent (He was so overrated coming out of Alabama) and is most definitely not someone to be counted upon as a respected individual.

He has a lot of talent. Nothing much upstairs though.

 

[Snake Eyes]

He has a lot of talent. Nothing much upstairs though.

While he might not be a Rhodes scholar I wouldnt be surprised if the Raider org. brings out the worst in people.

 

[hwc]

Ooops, Senior moment. No trade possible. Trading deadline has passed. He woudl have to get waived and then make it all the way through the order to the Pats. Doesn't seem likely.

 

[Lansdowne]

BB would never sign a guy who allegedly pistolwhipped their sister's boyfriend or punched a cop. The kid is a Saban guy right? I'm sure BB will call and see what he was like in college.

calling the man's character into question ≠ saying he can't play for BB

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I remember just 2 years ago Raiders fans were bragging about how their LB pick was WAY better than Spikes

Raiders fans remind me of jets fans..they both suck

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

straight nate charleston guy couldnt put the chicken in the hen i tell ye what

 

[DaBruinz]

Looks like one more example of good measurables and talent, but not being able to work hard enough and have the proper attitude of a winner and team player.

Many were certainly high on him coming out of college.

On the contrary. According to reports he asked for his release because he was sick and tired of others not putting the effort in and the team "always" losing.

Which I can understand. If you are the one busting your hump, but others are just going through the motions and just collecting a paycheck because they don't give a damn, you want things to change. If it's easier to change the setting your in than have others change to be better, then that's what it takes.

 

[Avenger]

IF we pick him up an IF he finally fulfills his potential then our LB corps would be stacked.

 

[patriot.de]

when he get released, i think the ravens will take a look...

 

[mayoclinic]

The Raiders were probably going to cut McClain after this year due to his 2013 contract, so it's not a huge shock for them. They may be the worst team in the NFL the way they are playing right now, so what does it hurt to shake things up?

BB should have plenty of info on McClain from Saban and from guys like Hightower who played with him. There are some big questions:

1. How much was a product of the Alabama hype coming out vs. his actual skill set, and does that skill set appear to have eroded?

2. How much baggage is there with the off field issues, negative attitude, etc.?

3. Can McClain play 4-3 SAM and cover TEs, or is he strictly a 3-4 ILB?

McClain was used in more of a coverage role last year in Oakland, and he did have 14 PD. I didn't see any film of him, so I have no idea how good he was in that kind of role. But the idea of moving Hightower up to DE and having Mclain-Spikes-Mayo at LB would seem attractive as a long term option. In the short term, if he can provide the kind of depth that we lost with Dane Fletcher's injury, it might be worthwhile.

As for the waiver wire, McClain's salary issue is the main thing which may impact teams from taking a look at him.

I'm sure BB will be sniffing around a bit, though it's very low likelihood of anything happening. But I wouldn't just dump on McClain. People were too quick to overhype him, and may be too quick to trash him. The time to buy is when the market is low.

 

[Wilfork#75]

I want absolutely no part of a guy that should be in jail and not on a football field. I'm usually one of the first to want to take a risk on a guy, but this guy doesn't have character concerns, he is just a flat out P.O.S. human being. Do not want.

 

[RodThePat]

Yea if Navorro Bowman can cover people then Mayo and Hightower should be able to.

Navorro Bowman is 6'0, 242 pounds. He's about the same size as Mayo, but he's faster and quicker. Hightower is 6'2, 270. He's built like a DE, it's no wonder coverage isn't his strong suit.

 

[Kontradiction]

Spent some time last night watching some videos and reading up on him online. As mayoclinic said, if he can line up at SAM LB and improve the overall coverage against TE's over the middle and down the seam, I'd be all for bringing him in. The coverage over the middle of the field has been soft (to put it politely) all season long and could be a weakness against the Mannings of the world in the postseason.