Bob Labbe of the Madison (Alabama) Weekly News is reporting that troubled former Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain, the defensive leader of Alabama’s 2010 BCS Championship team (2009 season) is on his way to Charm City to become the newest member of the Baltimore Ravens.
(Note: As of 6:30PM today multiple sources have confirmed that McClain has signed a one-year deal with the Ravens.)
According to Madison News Weekly McClain is quoted as saying, “It’s a move that can’t go wrong and I’m looking forward to playing in Baltimore as the Ravens run the same or very similar defense as I was a part of at the University of Alabama.”
If the report is accurate, McClain could fill a gaping hole left by the departures of Ray Lewis (retirement) and Dannell Ellerbe (free agency) and it would unite him with former teammate Terrence Cody and another Crimson Tide alumnus Courtney Upshaw.
McClain has a ton of baggage and has been an off-the-field train wreck. The move would be surprising given the way in which the Ravens have shaped their locker room with men of character. On the surface he would not appear to be a fit for John Harbaugh’s locker room.
That said McClain could be a fit for General Manager Ozzie Newsome’s “right player, right price” credo. In order to re-establish himself in the NFL, McClain should willing accept a bargain basement contract. It could be that Ozzie sees little risk and may have struck a deal that allows the team to cut ties painlessly if McClain flops on or off the field.
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