Dallas Cowboys Sign Ronaldo McClain to a One-Year Deal
The Dallas Cowboys resigned linebacker Ronaldo McClain on a one-year contract, ESPN.com reported. The contract includes a base salary of $3 million with an additional $1 million in playing-time incentives.
The 25-year-old free agent also visited the New England Patriots earlier this week before he agreed to stay in Dallas. McClain is facing a four-game fine for violating the league's substance abuse policy. According to the NFL's new policy, a third failed test results in a fine. Another failed test after that, however, will lead to a suspension.
In this past season, McClain recorded 81 combined tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble despite missing three games due to injuries. McClain also did not play in a fourth game even though he was active.
The Cowboys acquired McClain from the Baltimore Ravens as well as a Baltimore's seventh rounder last July in exchange for their sixth rounder. He was brought in to replace Sean Lee, who tore his ACL, and quickly became a dominant force on the field.
"I look at anything that he dealt with injury-wise as a part of the rehabbing of getting back in the groove in the NFL," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Clarence Hill of Bleacher Report. "I don't mean to minimize what he played with, but still all of that has a chance to be better as he goes along and plays. Just a question of having to adjust and being out [of football] 18 months."
McClain, who entered the league in 2010 - he was selected eighth overall by the Oakland Raiders - has retired twice already before making a comeback.
In 2014, McClain came in tied for second in voting with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin for NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski won the award.
