[News] Report: Rolando McClain Says He’s Signing 1-Year Deal With Ravens

[BR News]

The former Raiders linebacker told an Alabama newspaper he's coming to Baltimore.

[url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Report-Rolando-McClain-Says-He’s-Signing-1-Year-Deal-With-Ravens/bf6241ea-e5ba-4b58-82e1-081264d132ca]View the full article[/url]

[RavensNo1Fan1]

I sure hope his off the field issues stay in Cali!. If so he will be a great addition to increasingly formidable defense this year.

[Ravenslifer]

This is an excellent signing - low-risk, high reward, and it gives us a lot more flexibility in the draft.

[Guest D3x3001]

I see this guy shaping up and sticking with us for the rest of his career. Let's see some splash plays Rolando. Welcome to Baltimore.

[TheRavengers]

Though I was hoping to add the missing LB piece from the draft, this is actually a pretty cool signing. Can't wait to see him don the purple & black this time around.

So much Crimson Tide.

[Peej]

As to his off-field issues: We might be looking at a player, a young man, who has seen how his behavior came with consequences. We also might be looking at a player who, given a fresh start, will play and live like a Raven!

Has anyone heard anything bad about Jimmy Smith off the field? My point exactly!

[Bkoz]

Love this signing, easily worth a shot!

[cobrajet]

@RavensNo1Fan1............I agree, if he stays clean he can fill a big hole. I am just really big on the staying clean part though now that he is joining the Ravens.

[Brock397]

Great signing another Alabama Linebacker. very high cieling with this guy

[J.O.14]

I see this guy turning his career around and being a beast. He is just 23 years old, this is a great signing. I really hope he pans out for us. He is a great run stopping LB as well. This will fill a big hole. Ozzie keeps doing his thing, our defense will be a lot better than last year. This also may indicate that we are going with S or WR in the first round.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

if he's signing a 1 year deal, he knows he's in for a trial - quite an attitude change

[CalvinSmoke]

haha, our defense is going to be the Alabama Defensive Alumni team by the end of the decade. That's fine with me though, let's get our swagger back.

[TheSim]

One year means they could have done with Seattle did with Terrell Owens last offseason: make it non-guaranteed money unless the player actually makes the roster. My hope is that his troubles are behind him, but in case he's a problem, they could still cut him before Week One and lose nothing.

[Ernie20]

I saw he only had two tackles in the game against the Ravens last year. Was he blocked, hurt or pulled?

[runamuk]

If he plays to his potential then our defense has taken another leap forward . I'm leary but it's time to show everyone what you can do.

[T-Phizzle]

A Classic "Prove it to me" contract. Let's go Rolando, we got a championship to defend

[JEFF5378]

In Ozzie I trust. Great singing Ozzie.

[cwayne24]

maybe now we can draft eric reid or matt elam in te first round and get da'rick rogers in the 2nd or 3rd.would love to see us still draft kevin reddick from unc or nico johnson from alabama

[Fulawka]

When the Raiders finally let the guy go my first thought is we gotta get this guy. I'm beyond stoked to have him come in here. IMO he's better then the top inside backers in this draft, and he'll come relatively cheap. When the off season started the way it did, I was excited to see Ozzie work his magic. He definitely hasn't disappointed.

[CapoRocky]

Let's pair him up with Upshaw from day one! As a matter of fact, invite them into the weight room and let them motivate Cody to regain his position as starting NT. Ozzie, can you hear me? Role Tide!

[Waka Flocka Flacco]

Changing of the guard, from the U to Bama. Now we need Jesse Williams.

[BlackBirdsRising]

The Crimson Tide are fast becoming the Baltimore Ravens' farm system. :) And I'm loving it!!

McClain has crazy upside! If he sorts his OTF issues out, he has potential to play 10 years as a Raven and create a legacy as a dominant inside LB. I liked him when he came out and was drafted by Oakland and I remember saying to myself "that guy is going to be a waste in Oakland." Who knew he'd have a chance to revive his career here!

Loving this!! In Ozzie We Trust...

[WeCanDoAllThings52]

Huge gamble here, I hope it works.

I think this takes us out of the running for a ILB in the draft... More reason for us to consider John Cyprien!!!

[PlAyLiKeArAvEn96]

[quote name='CalvinSmoke' timestamp='1365605485' post='1429508']
haha, our defense is going to be the Alabama Defensive Alumni team by the end of the decade. That's fine with me though, let's get our swagger back.
[/quote]

Fine with me, too, brother. . .
When will the rest of the league catch on? When Miami was running the college football world, we were snatching up Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Willis McGahee, Damien Berry, Bryant McKinnie, etc. Now that Alabama is on top, we grab up Mount Cody, Upshaw, McClain -> somehow without everyone noticing. . . . .in fact, while they were laughing around the water coolers about the "exodus of Baltimore". . . . .we've gotten younger, faster, more athletic & much cheaper; in position for this team to build chemsitry & be together for at least 5 - 7 seasons.

(2 players on the entire roster over 30?? Ozzie is laughing all the way to the bank. . . .while walking past two Lombardi trophys)

[stovenut]

Wish we could have negotiated a 2nd year to the deal. It would be a shmae to develop him this year and not be able to afford to keep him in the future.

[Guest GoldRaven]

Great pick up!! Like Steve Bischotti said you can not expect to have a team of 53 angels. That's just not going to happen period.

Also does this mean we really don't want Te'o?

[SonOfAMitch]

1 year deal is perfect. It'll keep his eyes set on working hard and proving himself to the classiest organization in the NFL. The 1 year deal shows that the Ravens want McClain to turn his off field issues around. We just need a hard hitting safety and I do believe we'll have that mean streak back on defense.

[raven fanatic]

Glad to see that we didn't forget how important defense is!

[TheSim]

[quote name='stovenut' timestamp='1365606152' post='1429534']
Wish we could have negotiated a 2nd year to the deal. It would be a shmae to develop him this year and not be able to afford to keep him in the future.
[/quote]

I'm sure if Ozzie wanted him for a 2nd year, McClain would have agreed to it, but you can't do that with a guy with McClain's troubled past. And it means we don't need to use a high draft pick this year on an ILB.

[Aviano87]

One year deal, why not? We still need to address the position long-term in the draft. I wish him the best in Bmore.