The NFL announced on Thursday that Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain has been suspended for the first four games of the regular season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
McClain, 25, apologized in a statement through the NFL Players Association.
“I apologize to my family, the Cowboys organization, my teammates and Cowboys fans for my mistake,” he said. “I will not break the rules of my profession in the future, and I regret my error. I look forward to returning to the field on week 5, when I hope to help my team beat the Patriots.”
In typical NFL fashion, the league has chosen to announce several suspensions just before the start of a holiday weekend. New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson will also miss the first four games of the season due to alleged marijuana use.
McClain has had plenty of issues off the field since he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 draft. The former Alabama star has been arrested multiple times. He was out of football for a full year after the 2012 season and screwed up his comeback attempt by showing up late to a workout with an NFL team.
The Cowboys decided to give McClain another chance last season, and he recorded 81 total tackles in 13 games. It’s unclear how his latest off-field incident will affect his future.
