Rolando McClain comeback?

[flynismo]

Well if he wants to re-start his NFL career, he has to see the Ravens first. They hold his contractual rights.

 

I agree with this but what we've seen in his NFL career thus far is pretty disappointing. As people have rightly pointed out, he was a top-10 pick and one that was almost unanimously lauded as excellent by the Raiders in 2010... until he started underperforming and getting arrested.

 

Then again, if something is of your own accord, why schedule it when you're not conditioned and can not / will not do the drills? And then show up late? It was an audition to get back onto the team and it did not go well.

 

Wasn't thrilled when we first picked him up, or when he got arrested, or when he retired, or when he came back and blew the workout.

I think he rushed the comeback due to time. Summer camps,  etc will be starting soon; it would be tough to get back to football if he just showed up at our door one day late in August.....either that, or he was just wrong; maybe he thought he was physically ready but had a rude awakening.

 

I can't justify the being late; but really, to me, it's whatever. Can't say I've never been late for a meeting or something like that that.

 

And just to clarify, I was never big on bringing him in in the first place, even at vet minimum. In fact, I strongly disliked it. He's a 1st round bust, always will be, and has never given me reason to think he would ever be more than another Jameel McClain.

[mmcclend]

I think he rushed the comeback due to time. Summer camps,  etc will be starting soon; it would be tough to get back to football if he just showed up at our door one day late in August.....either that, or he was just wrong; maybe he thought he was physically ready but had a rude awakening.

 

I can't justify the being late; but really, to me, it's whatever. Can't say I've never been late for a meeting or something like that that.

 

And just to clarify, I was never big on bringing him in in the first place, even at vet minimum. In fact, I strongly disliked it. He's a 1st round bust, always will be, and has never given me reason to think he would ever be more than another Jameel McClain.

Hes a tad more athletic than Jameel but for the most part you're very correct.  Id rather have arthur and Daryl for now.  I would almost rather start Bynes over him.

[Moderator 3]

On that being late thing: keep in mind that the weather was absolutely vile yesterday. I'm sure a lot of people were late for important events. He might have a legit excuse.

[The Raven]

On that being late thing: keep in mind that the weather was absolutely vile yesterday. I'm sure a lot of people were late for important events. He might have a legit excuse.

 

Idk about you or anybody else, but in my work experience, I've been required to be on time regardless of the weather. Same goes for parents, relatives and friends. Weather is not a legit excuse unless it's significant snow or a hurricane of sorts. Those didn't happen yesterday. If you know the weather's bad, leave earlier. Simple. It's unprofessional to be late. Period.

 

If there was a family emergency of sorts, fine. But I'm not buying the weather crap.

[mmcclend]

This is turning into a circus, get rid of this fool.

HAHAHAHAHA i just lol'd in class. Thanks bro

[Moderator 3]

I've been expected to be on time, but was never penalized for being late if there were weather-related delays such as flooded roads, traffic accidents, etc. Life happens.

[flynismo]

I've been expected to be on time, but was never penalized for being late if there were weather-related delays such as flooded roads, traffic accidents, etc. Life happens.

I hope this isn't too off topic, but last summer I was 35 minutes late for a meeting with a prospective client. I was late because I left the GPS at home and apparently took a few wrong turns. She bought me a coffee and accepted the bid I submitted to her the same day.

I guess the point is we know what is expected of us in a professional environment. And being professional doesn't mean throwing humanity out the window....like you say, life happens. People understand that. Just don't make it a habit

[berad]

I think he rushed the comeback due to time. Summer camps,  etc will be starting soon; it would be tough to get back to football if he just showed up at our door one day late in August.....either that, or he was just wrong; maybe he thought he was physically ready but had a rude awakening.

 

I can't justify the being late; but really, to me, it's whatever. Can't say I've never been late for a meeting or something like that that.

 

And just to clarify, I was never big on bringing him in in the first place, even at vet minimum. In fact, I strongly disliked it. He's a 1st round bust, always will be, and has never given me reason to think he would ever be more than another Jameel McClain.

 

This is just a general question: have we seen anything from Rolando? Has he put on a jersey? Lifted a weight in our equipment room? He was a Raven for a month, in the slow times of April-May, and spent enough time in Alabame to get arrested during that period.

 

If he became Jameel, I would be singing his praises - my expectations are much lower.

[1/28/01]

On that being late thing: keep in mind that the weather was absolutely vile yesterday. I'm sure a lot of people were late for important events. He might have a legit excuse.

You mean the rain?

[Ravensuperfan1]

Free coffee and hot chocolate all day at WAWA.

 

wait free hot chocolate?!

[izvoodoo]

You mean the rain?

Rain, sleet and snow.  I drove home in the same traffic, and it was absolutely horrid.  If he was in the same traffic as I was, I don't really blame him for being late (and I doubt they do).  either way they gain nothing from cutting him now.

[1/28/01]

Rain, sleet and snow. I drove home in the same traffic, and it was absolutely horrid. If he was in the same traffic as I was, I don't really blame him for being late (and I doubt they do). either way they gain nothing from cutting him now.

Just guessing here, but I'm pretty sure his meeting, or whatever we're calling it, was early in the day, perhaps even in the morning. Being late is pathetic!

[izvoodoo]

Just guessing here, but I'm pretty sure his meeting, or whatever we're calling it, was early in the day, perhaps even in the morning. Being late is pathetic!

I agree, being late is what bothered me.  But I'll trust ozzie, since I wasn't there.  But the reports didn't come out until the evening so if the time lines stack up it may have just been traffic.  Which is fine, but if it wasn't something understandable it's a big problem.  

[D-Rey]

I'll reserve my judgement for later on this one. I don't expect him to be in great shape this early. And we don't know why he was late and I don't think there is a report on how late. Just gonna see how this one plays out.

[flynismo]

Glad to see Rolando is the only person here who has ever been late for work

[rmw10]

Glad to see Rolando is the only person here who has ever been late for work

 

That's not the point.  The point is that he's been given numerous chances and has never taken one of them and turned it into anything at the NFL level.  How many more chances does this guy deserve?  As I said earlier, actions speak louder than words.  Showing up late and not even working out doesn't back up his "changed man" claim.

[Ravens1991]

We have all been late to work/class before. But if you quit your job out of no where then ask for it back. When you go back it is a real bad look if you are late.

[flynismo]

That's not the point. The point is that he's been given numerous chances and has never taken one of them and turned it into anything at the NFL level. How many more chances does this guy deserve? As I said earlier, actions speak louder than words. Showing up late and not even working out doesn't back up his "changed man" claim.

He deserves as many chances as the FO deems fit. Being late is no indictment of anything. Not working out means what? That rather than prove he was wrong and wasn't physically ready, and have the door shut in his face right then and there, leave the door cracked, no matter how small that crack may be?

[rmw10]

He deserves as many chances as the FO deems fit. Being late is no indictment of anything. Not working out means what? That rather than prove he was wrong and wasn't physically ready, and have the door shut in his face right then and there, leave the door cracked, no matter how small that crack may be?

 

He would have been much better off showing that he at least has some semblance of wanting to play football.  Showing up and not working out was a complete waste of the FO's time.  As far as I'm concerned, the door should be slam shut.  If you can't trust him show up to a job interview and perform the expected tasks, can you really expect him to show up to meetings, film studies, practice on time?

 

I refuse to excuse the guy.  He's never done anything in his NFL career that would make me want to give him a 3rd chance.  He's already blown 2 of them.  He obviously doesn't want this bad enough.  Give that spot to someone who actually cares.  If this was uncharacteristic for the guy, I would be agreeing with you, but McClain has a history and practically no good showings to his name.

[display name]

He would have been much better off showing that he at least has some semblance of wanting to play football.  Showing up and not working out was a complete waste of the FO's time.  As far as I'm concerned, the door should be slam shut.  If you can't trust him show up to a job interview and perform the expected tasks, can you really expect him to show up to meetings, film studies, practice on time?

 

I refuse to excuse the guy.  He's never done anything in his NFL career that would make me want to give him a 3rd chance.  He's already blown 2 of them.  He obviously doesn't want this bad enough.  Give that spot to someone who actually cares.  If this was uncharacteristic for the guy, I would be agreeing with you, but McClain has a history and practically no good showings to his name.

Add those two to about a million chances that he must've gotten with the Raiders.

[codizzle]

Glad to see Rolando is the only person here who has ever been late for work

I'd view it a little differently since it was more of an interview... That he initiated

[1/28/01]

Glad to see Rolando is the only person here who has ever been late for work

Right...It was just a simple, run of the mill day at work and THEN when he did show up, he performed well.

[Grapple Raven]

Hear me out for a second.  Forget about Rolando the football player for a moment, and look at Rolando the man... this ESPN article from Oct. 30, 2013 is very telling, I think, about where the problems are with Rolando that he must figure out before he embarks forward in his life.

 

This is a very well written piece that looks into the life of Rolando. It is worth a read if you haven't seen it already.  If you have, I apologize.

Link:  http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9882568/nfl-former-oakland-raiders-alabama-linebacker-rolando-mcclain-self-imposed-exile

 

Pertinent excerpt:

 

{"He left after three years, expecting NFL money to solve his family's problems. He got drafted, went to Oakland and almost immediately wished he'd never left Tuscaloosa. So here he is, trying to re-create something that he's realizing no longer exists. McClain and Saban talk only occasionally, and Saban didn't reply to interview requests for this story. Shortly after McClain returned to Tuscaloosa, the coach did introduce McClain to a therapist. They spoke a few times, but McClain hasn't worked up the courage to commit. "I'm scared of what he might figure out about me," he says with a forced laugh.

What does he not want to know?(the reporter asked of McClain)  "I don't know if I'm ready to know, man, why I was so angry. I don't know if I'm ready to know what triggers my anger. I just feel like I figured out on my own how to stay calm, how to enjoy life, how to be happy. Eventually, I might find the source of the problem, get over it. But right now …"  He sounds like someone who's already had counseling, with self-awareness and smarts that are rare in any 24-year-old. And yet there's another piece of him that seems to drift."}

 

This is the part of Rolando that concerns me...until he is willing to commit to finding out what triggers his anger he can't move forward in his life and be successful.   This lack of courage to commit, not knowing if he is ready to figure out what triggers his anger, thinking he can figure this all out on his own is what bothers me about Rolando. He had a very difficult upbringing, alot of tragedy in his life, made a lot of bad choices, and yes a lot of people have as well and have overcome them on their own. But we are all built differently and some people have inherently better coping mechanisms and support systems... Rolando maybe one of the exceptions that doesn't.  He maybe the person that needs professional help to overcome the issues of his upbringing.  The fact that he is not willing to try to seek out solutions to his issues is troubling for me. 

 

I think that is why he showed up late and out of shape to his second chance at football...it kind of represents the unresolved conflict in his life up to this point... as in yes, he wants to play football, but he can't commit...Rolando is searching for an answer trying to find out the missing piece in his puzzle of life, but he is to naive to realize he can't find it on his own. Its sad, but right now football isn't the answer for Rolando, until he finds out the other answers first, imho.  For his sake, and his children's sake I hope he does. Once he finds those answers, if that brings him back to football...then he will be successful.  But until then Rolando has a lot of work to do...on himself. Just my thoughts.

[flynismo]

Right...It was just a simple, run of the mill day at work and THEN when he did show up, he performed well.

Right...he's the only person who has ever been late for anything in the NFL.  Guy is trying to improve his life, and people rag on him for anything they can think of. It's easy to kick someone when they're down.

[Tank 92]

Right...he's the only person who has ever been late for anything in the NFL.  Guy is trying to improve his life, and people rag on him for anything they can think of. It's easy to kick someone when they're down.

 

 

Being late?  No big deal....... not performing well after arriving late? well.........

[The Mom Gene]

Right...he's the only person who has ever been late for anything in the NFL.  Guy is trying to improve his life, and people rag on him for anything they can think of. It's easy to kick someone when they're down.

Agree Fly.

[The Mom Gene]

The article from last year was why he left to begin with...  I wasn't there, but believe he's had well over a year to do that... to deal with these issues... it's the media folks...  Come on, Give the guy a shot..  nothing more, but give him that.

[1/28/01]

Right...he's the only person who has ever been late for anything in the NFL. Guy is trying to improve his life, and people rag on him for anything they can think of. It's easy to kick someone when they're down.

You made the comment about everyday people being late for work or whatever. This was not a typical, mundane day in the office. It was a tryout or whatever we're calling it. Dude was late (horrible first impression) and then performs pathetically, in fact cant even finish.

Edit - And who is kicking him? Im just stating facts, right?

[berad]

Right...he's the only person who has ever been late for anything in the NFL.  Guy is trying to improve his life, and people rag on him for anything they can think of. It's easy to kick someone when they're down.

Don't see anyone kicking him. It's great he feels good enough to try to return to the NFL but that feeling did not transfer to his conditioning.

[flynismo]

You made the comment about everyday people being late for work or whatever. This was not a typical, mundane day in the office. It was a tryout or whatever we're calling it. Dude was late (horrible first impression) and then performs pathetically, in fact cant even finish.

Edit - And who is kicking him? Im just stating facts, right?

Calling him pathetic for being late (in a previous post) is kicking him.

 

I get the fact that this was a big opportunity for him. He blew it on multiple counts. But we're not talking about curing cancer or feeding the hungry; it's a football practice/tryout/workout/whatever-it-was. Kinda harsh to call someone out for being late...obviously it wasn't a huge deal to the staff, since they let him continue the workout (which he proceeded to blow)