Rolando

McClain

Eyewitnesses say police ordered McClain and several others to leave Pines Park after a large crowd had gathered. McClain refused and began “cursing” at officers, before being handcuffed, and bailing out of jail shortly thereafter. McClain has now been arrested three times in his hometown of Decatur since 2011. He needs to stop going back there for the sake of his livelihood, and perhaps his personal safety. Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome smartly guaranteed no portion of McClain’s one-year, $700,000 contract.

McClain is owed base salaries of $4.005 million (2013) and $5.805 million (2014), so it’s a safe bet that he’ll clear waivers. He will generate some interest once he hits the open market. McClain is a two-down inside linebacker with next to no coverage ability and has off-field issues, but he’s a serviceable run defender and is only 23 years old. It’s perhaps worth noting that new Browns GM Mike Lombardi -- an NFL Network analyst at the time -- compared McClain to former Giants great Pepper Johnson coming out of Alabama in 2010. Cleveland could use competition at the inside linebacker position next to D’Qwell Jackson.

The deal also includes playing-time incentives. It’s a minimum commitment from the Ravens, but one that could pay off nicely if McClain emerges as a starter. There’s a decent chance he will, but McClain is strictly a two-down ‘backer. He’s been poor in coverage since being the No. 8 pick of the 2010 draft. The Ravens should remain on the prowl for inside linebacker help after losing Ray Lewis and Dannell Ellerbe. Although he won’t turn 24 until July, this could be McClain’s last NFL chance after he proved to be a massive headache in Oakland.

Oakland has a number of 3-4 type rush linebackers (Kam Wimbley, Quentin Groves, Trevor Scott), a 3-4 inside ‘backer (Rolando McClain), and 3-4 capable ends (Richard Seymour, Matt Shaughnessy). What they don’t have yet is a 3-4 nose tackle. We’ll know they’re serious about the scheme change if they select someone like Terrence Cody or Cam Thomas in round two.

The Raiders have a habit of reaching, and they’ve done it again. Though this pick will mess up mock drafts, as expected, perhaps we should have seen it coming. They’ve been shopping Kirk Morrison, leaving a hole in the middle of the defense. McClain was far and away the draft’s top middle linebacker, and he’ll play immediately in Oakland. Though he lacks elite speed and may be liability in coverage, McClain is stout run defender with a high football IQ.

The players were only seen going through warmups and drills, but it’s all good sign that all three will be available when the Raiders come out of the bye in Week 11. It will be interesting to see how the wideout depth chart shakes out after Jacoby Ford’s coming out party in Week 9.

McClain acknowledged that contract talks haven’t started yet, but we get the feeling he knows he was a reach at No. 8 overall. “In order to play for the team, I need to be in training camp. I’m going to OTAs and not worried about the contract,” McClain said. Based on the contract last year’s No. 8 pick got, he’ll likely get a five-year deal worth about $36 million.

“The standout from the beginning has been McClain,” observed Murphy. “He’s a beast in the middle. He’s still picking things up and learning the defense, but his presence alone is eye-opening.” McClain is the heavy favorite to lead all rookie defenders in tackles this season. He’s a candidate for 120-plus.

“I’ve been having two seasons of nagging pain in my knee,” conceded McClain, who says he now “feels a lot better.” A radiologist in Gulf Shores injected fat cells from other parts of McClain’s body into the knee and the area of a previous high ankle sprain. McClain is now working out five days per week, and says he’s able to sprint “with hardly any pain at all.”

Allen described his defensive design as “attacking” and aggressive,” and it will likely be 4-3 based with some 3-4 looks. “I don’t think radical changes are what need to be made,” Allen said of the Raiders’ defensive personnel in place. “There’s a talented defense (here), and we got enough players, both on offense and defense, that we can win a championship with.”