Dallas Cowboys’ Rolando McClain faces 10-game suspension

Lawrence’s fellow defensive end Randy Gregory will also open the year by serving a four-game suspension, leaving the Cowboys down three players that would be major parts of their defense in a ideal world.

Both DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory have been suspended four games each for violating the NFL’ substance abuse policy.

He recorded 80 tackles, two sacks, and an interception in the 11 games he played last season.

This is just another chapter in the tumultuous and rocky career of McClain. The Cowboys’ pass rush was abysmal last season, ranking 25th overall in sacks.

McClain is the third Cowboys defender to get hit with a suspension in 2016.

McClain played his final game as a Raider on November 25, 2012, and didn’t play in another National Football League regular-season game for 642 days.

Not only will the Cowboys be without McClain for more than half the season, they will also be missing their two starting defensive ends for the exact same violation. This would allow the backup LBs to shift to outside roles, which would likely be less demanding than Lee’s position in the middle.

Additionally, it’s important to remember that this McClain suspension says nothing about the future of the Cowboys linebacking corps. Even if he is not ready by the start of next season I would not bring McClain back after this.

Since then, McClain has retired twice and been arrested three times.

After his second game with the Cowboys, McClain told reporters his life had been “on a bad path”.

This is the second year in a row that McClain has been suspended to begin the year.