Rolling The Dice On Rolando McClain?
February 6th, 2015
The NFL free agency dinner bell rings in 32 days
Mason Foster’s contract expires in four weeks and the Bucs’ middle linebacker likely will be looking for work far from the white sands of Clearwater Beach resorts.
Foster battled injuries during his four Tampa Bay seasons and doesn’t look like the every-down LB Lovie Smith wants in his defense.
Wacky Roland McClain sure plays like that guy. The Cowboys’ nasty man in the middle is up for a new contract, too, coming off a strong season that shocked the NFL.
At 24 years old last summer, McClain chose to unretire after sitting out a year with the Ravens, and the Cowboys traded for him. The former Raiders first-round pick (2010) was reborn. Cowboys fans want him back next season.
NFL suits, though, have to be wondering, at least a little, about where McClain’s head is. And Joe’s not talking about the concussions he suffered in the playoffs last month.
From the Bucs’ perspective, McClain succeeded in a Tampa-2 defense in Dallas, and he’s got massive upside potential. Remember, Bucs overlord of football operations Lovie Smith is the textbook glass-half-full, positive-thinking kind of guy.
However, there’s that sketchy, questionable side of McClain. He’s got a few arrests in his past — nothing too nuts — and he quit the game and returned to college.
What a Wild Card free agent signing McClain would be for Tampa Bay. He shouldn’t be too expensive, if the Bucs were to take the risk. If the Bucs hold on to Danny Lansanah, that could lessen a gamble on McClain.
February 6th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
Best value for ILB in the draft is the top of the second round. Lets draft the QB of our defense there.
February 6th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
It wouldn’t be a bad signing, at a low price. Another capable player would have to be signed just in case.
February 6th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
lb perryman miamai wit 2nd pik
February 6th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
He ain’t gonna put up with Lovies losing…
February 6th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
who’s that tired a$$ ole man?
oh yeah, that dude that got Chucky fired.
February 6th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
While we’re at it lets sign Aaron Sears too. He’s another head case worth taking a look at. SMH
February 6th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
I’m pretty sure his name is F*** Y’All. Look it up…
February 6th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
Are you kidding? You gotta be kidding…
February 6th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
All depends on the price…..
Other than that….I like the idea of selecting a MLB with our 2nd pick and using 3rd & 4th for Oline…
We may also have an additional pick from the Glennon trade….
We will probably know our direction after FA signings.
February 6th, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Aaron Sears is an entirely different kind of “head case” and probably shouldn’t be mocked for sustaining a severe brain injury
February 6th, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Rolando to the Bucs has about as much traction as Rod Marinelli to the Bucs…..
none whatsoever
simple as that……..
February 6th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Draft Leonard Williams in the 1st, draft Perryman in the 2nd and get back to #1 winning defense again
February 6th, 2015 at 1:56 pm
The thought of throwing ANY guaranteed money at a guy this sketchy makes me feel a bit queasy. Talk about potential FA busts. I think L&L will not be taking any risks or making any projections on FAs with guaranteed $$$ this offseason. Any big money will be spent on proven NFL starters without big question marks, or value plays. Think MLB could be drafted too.
February 6th, 2015 at 2:11 pm
dang, looks like Monte is sleeping in his Cowboys garb these days….
February 6th, 2015 at 2:12 pm
In a twisted way, Joe would be curious to see how empty the Den of Depression will be this fall if the Bucs reach for a guard at No. 1.
February 6th, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Bring him in, we need all the help we can get on both sides of the ball.
February 6th, 2015 at 2:13 pm
^^^stupid phone
Michael Oher was just released by the Titans. Bring him in to play OT. He has only been in the league 6 yrs and is a proven OT. Do it, pull the trigger.
February 6th, 2015 at 2:15 pm
@Skyline Crew, Don’t give our Bucs any ideas. At this point nothing really surprises me though.
February 6th, 2015 at 2:16 pm
FO Ray Rice you miserable excuse for a human being. Aaron Sears suffers from a legitimate mental illness that has nothing to do with character issues or flaws. The illness was also exacerbated by repeated blows to the head.
To bring his name up as any type of example in this case shows what an uneducated ignorant classless individual you are.
February 6th, 2015 at 2:17 pm
Dallas is going to pay him. Not a shred of doubt in my mind.
So, playoffs next year?
Err, new offense, new QB, new LT.
On D, new MLB, new RDE, new safety and nickel.
This begs the question, will the clueless and confident blindly defend another putrid season from Love Me Not?
February 6th, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Non-story…
Cowboys will re-sign him, they can’t risk going all in with the injury prone Lee.
Next!
Go Sucs!
February 6th, 2015 at 2:46 pm
” has about as much traction as Rod Marinelli to the Bucs…..”
whaaaaaaaatttt?
i thought it was guaranteed and a lock by some posters here that marinelli was coming to work with his best bud lovie.
February 6th, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Mr. Patrick Says:
February 6th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Draft Leonard Williams in the 1st, draft Perryman in the 2nd and get back to #1 winning defense again
**************
Perryman has been going in the 1st round in the latest couple of Mocks I have seen. Been going as high as 22.
February 6th, 2015 at 3:41 pm
I was sad to see that myself Patrick. Love me some Perryman. Dude is like a Ray Lewis. Straight up Beast.
February 6th, 2015 at 4:46 pm
on the surface, it seems like rolando fails the “do you love football?” test that should be applied to every player you intend to give a multi-year deal to or that you are penciling in as a potential starter.
February 6th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Not happening, next.
February 6th, 2015 at 6:28 pm
He is a “head case” in every sense of the word. I’m about to say something that may shock some of you because it shocked me when I read it. I can’t remember who wrote the piece on McClain but I will advise everyone to check BSPN archives(yes BSPN) because it’s a fantastic read. I was surprised that someone there still practiced real journalism there and the article was written I believe a year or 2 ago while he was still retired.
February 6th, 2015 at 10:42 pm
I think we are looking at the wrong free agent Cowboys LB. If I’m not mistaken, Bruce Carter is a FA also. He was surprisingly productive when they ran the 3-4, but he is tailor made for this system. I believe he had 5 INTs this past season, FLIES around the field. Has some injury history so a low risk contract could be possible. I know he primarily plays outside, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him get a shot at the MLB opening.
February 7th, 2015 at 1:03 am
@Big Marlon B
I was about to mention Bruce Carter. I really like that guy. McClain would also be a solid pickup if its an incentive based contract. He has all the talent to be a top MLB. Can he stay focused on football is the real question. Small guaranteed money would be worth the risk IMO. Either one of these guys would be an improvement over Foster. And Dallas has to worry about Dez and Murray. That’s where their focus will be on at the start of FA. That’s the time to swoop and get one of them.
February 7th, 2015 at 2:28 am
I wouldn’t mind taking a chance on him with that up side as long as the price is right. Given his youth, up side, and talent (as long as the mental eval checks out) he is a solid pick at MLB between Lansanah and David.
I really wouldn’t want to have a rookie MLB as the starter! It is a complicated position to play let alone also call plays and check downs, They are the QB of the defense and that learning curve is rough. Plus at that position in the second round the value for the O-line or DE will far out weigh the MLB at that pick based on BPA.
As for Perryman, as much of a fan as I am for him I don’t see him fitting in the Tampa 2. Yes he is amazing as a thumper MLB but his coverage skills leaves something to be desired and that is the same problem Foster has now.
February 7th, 2015 at 7:46 am
I’m surprised @ Joe, and others that comment here, not anyone on here including Joe has said how the Bucs need to draft Bernardrick Mckinney, 6’5 240 lbs, crazy good athlete at MLB. Joe, Joe, Joe, why no talk on him yet, kinda dissapointing.
February 7th, 2015 at 9:59 am
I’m been banging the McClain to Bucs drum for the past two months. I’m in. Sean Lee is the starter, Cowboys CAN’T re-sign him…the biggest problem is that TWO additional teams will be looking for players for their versions of the T-2 (Redskins, Falcons).
February 7th, 2015 at 10:02 am
The True Buc Fan Says:
February 7th, 2015 at 7:46 am
I’m surprised @ Joe, and others that comment here, not anyone on here including Joe has said how the Bucs need to draft Bernardrick Mckinney, 6’5 240 lbs, crazy good athlete at MLB. Joe, Joe, Joe, why no talk on him yet, kinda dissapointing.
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Really? I listed McKinney on here just this past week as MLBs that could possibly be had in round 2 (along with Kendricks and Perryman). For the record, I prefer Kendricks. This guy is ALWAYS around the ball and makes big plays as well as the routine plays. McKinney is physically gifted like no other MLB, but he isn’t as instinctive. Perryman is probably the least athletic of the three but he also is around the ball and has good instincts.
February 7th, 2015 at 10:04 am
Big Marlon B Says:
February 6th, 2015 at 10:42 pm
I think we are looking at the wrong free agent Cowboys LB. If I’m not mistaken, Bruce Carter is a FA also. He was surprisingly productive when they ran the 3-4, but he is tailor made for this system. I believe he had 5 INTs this past season, FLIES around the field. Has some injury history so a low risk contract could be possible. I know he primarily plays outside, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him get a shot at the MLB opening.
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Bro, if Bruce Carter was tailor made for this system, why did the Cowboys hide him at SLB and keep him there even after their MLB got injured. Keep in mind, I was a big fan of Carter and thought he was going to be a star, but he almost lost his job this season though he did turn in some impressive numbers (5 interceptions).
February 7th, 2015 at 10:06 am
Skyline Crew Says:
February 6th, 2015 at 3:41 pm
I was sad to see that myself Patrick. Love me some Perryman. Dude is like a Ray Lewis. Straight up Beast.
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Watch some tape on Eric Kendricks of UCLA at draftbreakdown.com. There is even more to like when compared to Perryman. He is Eagles MLB Mychal Kendricks’ little bro.
February 7th, 2015 at 10:08 am
I don’t like it, winners build the key pieces in the draft, QB (coming soon), LT, WR1 (Evans), DL (McCoy), LB (David + ?). Lets get Perryman in the 2nd, hell trade back up into the 1st if we have to. QB (probably Winston) and Perryman 1-2, would be huge upgrades, and generate some excitement in the fan base. Then we can find a stud OL with the 3rd, plus a servicable DE with the 3rd we get for Glennon, and draft OL with the rest for all I care!
February 7th, 2015 at 10:08 am
biff barker Says:
February 6th, 2015 at 2:17 pm
Dallas is going to pay him. Not a shred of doubt in my mind.
So, playoffs next year?
Err, new offense, new QB, new LT.
On D, new MLB, new RDE, new safety and nickel.
This begs the question, will the clueless and confident blindly defend another putrid season from Love Me Not?
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That’s funny, you call somebody “clueless” and yet in the same post state that the Cowboys will re-sign their backup MLB when they have DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant to re-sign. You’re very perceptive….I’m sorry, I meant clueless.
February 7th, 2015 at 11:45 am
@Brandon
I should have elaborated, based on his skillset he APPEARS to be tailor made for it. And he probably played SLB in base packages because McClain is a more natural MLB. I don’t have the #s to back it up, but I’d be willing to bet Carter played a higher percentage of passing downs than McClain did.
I would also rather bring in someone with a bit of an injury history than someone who could decide at any moment (as he’s already done twice) that he’s done with football.
February 7th, 2015 at 5:30 pm
The smart thing to do is keep Foster and get McClain or other MLB that knows how to play the cover 2. Otherwise we would be looking crazy if the starter got hurt and there is non talented players as backup.
At least with this option Foster can be move to OLB and compete with Lansanah. Foster would be the 2nd MLB in case the starter get hurt. Lansanah can back up for both OLB spots. This could make the linebacker a solid group. It beat having to rely on Dan Fletcher or other special team specialist as starter.
February 7th, 2015 at 8:31 pm
Had it not been for Dallas/Monte/Marinelli making me a believer – I’d have passed on Rolando McClain…as it stands, I doubt Jerry and his ‘boys will ever let Rolando out of Dallas now!
February 7th, 2015 at 9:10 pm
Makes me laugh when we act like its a forgone conclusion that Foster will be gone… IMO, that’d be a mistake