Cowboys made the right call on Rolando McClain

We discuss why the Dallas Cowboys made the right decision re-signing linebacker Rolando McClain.

It shouldn’t come too much of a surprise that the Dallas Cowboys decided to re-sign middle linebacker Rolando McClain, especially after hearing both Jerry and Stephen Jones express their interest in the reunion several times during the off-season.

I personally really like the move. They sign McClain to yet another one year deal, which would make it the third consecutive one-year contract with the Cowboys.

Under the one-year contract McClain to make as much as $5 million if he meets all the the incentives, but what I really like the most about this contract is that the Cowboys have protected themselves in case McClain finds himself in trouble with the league once again.

If McClain does indeed get in trouble with the league, he could be looking at a year-long suspension if not being banned from the NFL entirely.

McClain has been somewhat hot and cold with his play during his time with the Cowboys, but when he is on there is no denying his playmaking ability.

After missing the entire 2013 NFL season, the Cowboys took a chance and traded with the Baltimore Ravens for McClain. He started 12 games and finished with 65 total tackles, one quarterback sack, two interceptions, and one forced fumble in 2014.

You could really tell that the year away from football took a toll on him as he tended to physically and mentally were down as the season went on, but the impact he made in the middle the Cowboys defense was undeniable.

In 2015, McClain started just 11 games after serving his four-game suspension and finesse the season with 50 total tackles, two quarterback sacks, and one interception that he returned for a touchdown. Again, the wear and tear of the NFL season took its toll on McClain both physically and mentally because he missed the entire off-season training programs because he was covering from knee surgery.

Personally, I really believe 2016 could be a huge year for McClain mostly due to the fact that he will be able to fully participate in all of the Cowboys off-season activities. I think more than anything his play will benefit from conditioning both this body and mind, something he hasn’t been able to do thus far during his tenure with Dallas.

At 6’4″, 255 lbs McClain provides a physical presence of the middle linebacker position that allows Sean Lee to stay on the weak side where he can hopefully remain healthy and keep making plays.

McClain is more than just a physical middle linebacker though. He shows the athletic ability to run sideline to sideline and create turnovers in both the passing and running game. This is evidenced by his four total defensive turnovers (3 int, 1 ff) over his two year career with the Cowboys.

The tandem of McClain and Lee could possibly be one of the better linebacker duos in the entire NFL and with both of them healthy and physically/mentally prepared, the Cowboys defense could greatly benefit from their presence on the field together.

What the signing of McClain really does for the Cowboys is that it allows them to fill a key position on defense so that they can approach the draft with one less glaring need.

It may just take them out of the conversation of drafting the athletic linebacker out of UCLA, Myles Jack, but since McClain still is just a one year contract who really knows what the Cowboys may do.

Let me hear your thoughts and opinions about the signing of Rolando McClain in the comment section below.

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