Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain arrived in South Florida on Friday from Alabama, amid uncertainty regarding whether he’ll suit up on Sunday. McClain was arrested Thursday on a variety of charges arising from an allegation that he pointed a gun in a man’s face before pulling it away and firing it by his ear.
Paul Gutierrez of CSNBayArea.com reports that McClain didn’t have much to say when he made it to Miami. “I’ve been advised to not say anything,” McClain said. “Best thing I can do is just stay quiet and get ready for the game.”
As to the bigger question of whether McClain will play for the 7-4 Raiders against the 3-8 Dolphins, McClain nevertheless said something. “No reason why I shouldn’t,” he said.
Apparently, McClain hadn’t seen or heard any of his head coach’s comments from earlier in the day.
“I have 52 other players that are doing things the right way and doing things as I see they should be doing it and we’re getting ready to play a game,” Hue Jackson said, via USA Today. “I will deal with Rolando when that time comes. . . .
“I’m not going to let anybody stop this train from where it’s going. I don’t care who it is, and I think the team’s that way. And this team has taken on my personality, and I know that and I believe that. We’re not going to get concerned about anybody that’s not on the train the right way. We’re going to get ready to go to Miami to win a football game. That’s all they know, that’s all I know, and that’s what we’re going to be concerned about.”
McClain officially is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. He missed practice each of the last three days, supposedly due to the ankle. But McClain had been in Alabama for his grandfather’s funeral, and the alleged incident occurred while McClain was in his home state.
McClain has missed two of 27 games during his tenure with the Raiders. Without him, the Raiders gave up 234 yards rushing against the Jaguars in 2010. This year, the Broncos gained 299 yards on the ground against the Raiders in McClain’s absence.
Technically, the Raiders can’t take action against McClain, since matters regarding off-field conduct fall within the scope of the league’s personal-conduct policy. But teams routinely impose discipline following such incidents; if the player chooses not to fight it, then it’s never an issue.
