Is Rolando McClain Coming Back or Not?

**Beau Petard** · 04-15-2014, 11:50 PM

McClain may think he's focused on returning, and MAYBE one could allow for him not being completely in shape to pass the conditioning tests at this point (although that's not a good sign at all!), but sorry, folks ---
"Icing on the cake? McClain showed up late, Kinkhabwala was told." added to the other stuff is a deal-breaker IMHO.

I've seen guys in lots of sports with lots of potential, but McClain seems to be pissing his away.

**JAB1985** · 04-16-2014, 07:06 AM

I dont see a reason to cut him right now still, but I dont like hearing the late part. Thats more damning than anything. could be reasons we dont know for that, that the team does and accepts but on his last legs he needs to be 15 mins early at this stage. Ive read and heard about his story since retiring and have been a fan of his "comeback" but things like this dont support that hes made major changes.

I think if that work out went well, Ozzie would have more faith and maybe devalue ILB a little. Now hell probably draft one for sure and I think that will significantly hinder McClains chances of making this team.

**GOTA** · 04-16-2014, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by Ravens Fan

He has plenty of time to get in shape and chances are that he will. If he plays well he will make the team regardless of his conditioning test results. I bet half our team would fail the test in the offseason

Half the team isn't trying to impress the coaches in April to make the roster. If we've learned one thing about Harbaugh it's that he doesn't reward laziness. That doghouse of his is real and plenty of talented players have found themselves on the bench or not on the team because they aren't committed.

**SeeBass** · 04-16-2014, 08:17 AM

If he was interested in coming back and playing football again he should have been willing to train hard enough to pass a conditioning test(what else does he have to do?). The fact that he didn't has to make the organization question his work ethic and desire.

**wickedsolo** · 04-16-2014, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by SeeBass

If he was interested in coming back and playing football again he should have been willing to train hard enough to pass a conditioning test(what else does he have to do?). The fact that he didn't has to make the organization question his work ethic and desire.

Of course it does, but how many guys (even guys who actually played last year) could come into off-season workouts in April and pass Harbs' conditioning test? Hell, Jacoby couldn't even do it last August!

I'm just saying...it's April. Now he knows that Harbs isn't playing. If he comes back for OTA's in May/June and still is out of shape, I doubt he makes it to training camp at all.

At this point, he is competing with guys like Albert McClellan and Josh Bynes.

**Terpsfan82** · 04-16-2014, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by GOTA

How is it meaningless? This is exactly the kind of test that he's supposedly been getting in shape for. I doubt they just showed up out of the blue. McClain had a date and a goal and he didn't get there. It's the same way he's handled everything in the NFL since getting drafted.

This. I'm 49 years old and I bet I could pass that test with a month's notice.

**wickedsolo** · 04-16-2014, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Terpsfan82

This. I'm 49 years old and I bet I could pass that test with a month's notice.

Damn brah. I thought you were closer to my age. ;)

**Rxdoxx** · 04-16-2014, 08:26 AM

ESPN magazine ran an article on him last October
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/98...-imposed-exile

He has just finished running his morning sprints, up a hill on his lakefront property about 20 minutes from campus. McClain looks like he could play in the NFL tomorrow, but his diet is that of a college freshman.

Starting to think that article was damage control/image repair and a new desire for a McKinnie payday

**RavenScallywag** · 04-16-2014, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by Terpsfan82

This. I'm 49 years old and I bet I could pass that test with a month's notice.

and yet, at least one prominent Raven has failed the conditioning test coming into Training Camp the last 2-3 years.

I'll admit, this is bad from the sense that McClain needs to prove a lot more than Courtney Upshaw, Jacoby Jones, Haloti Ngata, etc. Even more than Terrence Cody when he failed his rookie year. But, it's not like this is something that's passed with flying colors every time.

**wickedsolo** · 04-16-2014, 08:41 AM

I worked my ass off the summer between my senior year of high school and freshman year of college. I lifted like a fiend and put on 15lbs of good weight that summer and maintained pretty solid speed and agility.

Reported in August for training camp for my college football team.

Failed the conditioning test.

Passed it on the 2nd attempt 5 days later.

**trailhiker85** · 04-16-2014, 08:50 AM

I can see failing a conditioning test the first time around.

What I can't see is showing up late, knowing that you've been out of football for a while and are going to be under intense scrutiny from everyone because of past issues. Attitude is at least as important as conditioning.

I was never of fan of bringing McClain here. And I'm still not.