Rolando McClain takes his baggage back to Dallas
Linebacker Rolando McClain, a former top-10 pick who retired twice before turning his career around in Dallas, will continue his career there. As previously noted, it’s a one-year deal for McClain to remain with the Cowboys, with a value of up to $4 million.
With offers from both the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots in hand, McClain did everybody a favor and went back to where he came from. Rolando had been out of football for the 2013 season, and the Dallas Cowboys were the only team willing to give him a chance. There has to been some loyalty on the part of Rolando McClain to reunite with Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones, and "America's Team."
It is ironic that another "bad apple" was at Gillette Stadium yesterday while the owner, Bob Kraft was unavailable. Bob was detained in a courtroom in Fall River, MA giving testimony in the much publicized murder trial of Odin Lloyd involving former Patriots' TE Aaron Hernandez.
LB Rolando McClain did get an offer for a contract from the Patriots, but he refused and resigned with the Dallas Cowboys. Timing is everything in life. Yesterday was not the day for signing troubled youngsters to large contracts. New England Patriots' owner, Bob Kraft struggled mightily on the witness stand. He suffered from a head cold, and clearly did not look well. Bob had to have had a lot on his mind with one of his favorite players being involved in "gangster activities."
It was 1996 when the New England Patriots made their selection in the fifth round of the NFL draft, University of Nebraska DT Christian Peter.Wikipedia:
The pick set off a firestorm of criticism from the Boston area press, Patriots fans and women's groups, as well as Myra Kraft, wife of Patriots owner Robert Kraft. After learning more about Peter's violent history, the Patriots relinquished the rights to Christian only a week after the draft. The team said that Christian's behavior was "incompatible with our organization's standards of acceptable conduct."
Stan Grossfeld, Boston:
In 1993, Christian Peter was alleged to have sexually violated Melissa DeMuth in his dorm room at the University of Nebraska, though he was never charged over the alleged incident. Peter was arrested a total of eight times, and convicted four times. The charges included threatening to kill a parking attendant, trespassing, public urination, refusing to comply with police, illegal possession of alcohol, failure to appear in court, and grabbing a woman by the throat.
He continued to play football for Nebraska. After the 1993 conviction, Nebraska coach Tom Osborne suspended Peter for one game, a spring exhibition.
The spirit of Myra Kraft definitely "still lives on."
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.
Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy
For more of my articles, click here.
