Ex-Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain was arrested in Alabama over the weekend on gun and drug charges, according to reports.
McClain, 33, also a former standout at the University of Alabama was taken into custody Saturday night by the Moulton Police Department.
According to police, McClain was pulled over in a white 2022 Mercedes around 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday on suspicion of driving 70 mph in a 55 mph zone. During the ensuing stop, police say they smelled an odor of marijuana emanating from his car.
McClain immediately let the officers know there was a handgun in the vehicle.
Upon locating the gun in the door pocket on the driver’s side an officer also found a pack of chewing tobacco, and inside that pack was a separate bag of marijuana. Both McClain and the passenger — Detrick Mostello — were taken into custody.
McClain was charged with second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana, carrying a gun without a permit and speeding with bond set at $1,000. He has since been released.
McClain was arrested three times between Dec. 1, 2011, and April 21, 2013. The charges include:
- third-degree assault
- menacing
- reckless endangerment
- discharging a firearm inside the city limits
- disorderly conduct
- resisting arrest
It appears as though McClain has continued to make a series of poor choices that have clearly stopped him from being a part of the NFL and continuing to earn a living.
In 2013 after signing with the Baltimore Ravens a month prior, McClain abruptly announced his resignation from the NFL.
He was acquired by the Cowboys in 2014 via trade. McClain helped the Cowboys win the NFC East title in 2014 and earn their first playoff victory since 2009 as Dallas’ middle linebacker.
He last played in the league in 2015 and was suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s substance abuse policy in 2016.
In 2017 McClain was arrested on gun and marijuana charges as well.
He was conditionally reinstated in August of 2019, released by the Cowboys and again suspended indefinitely.
At 33 it is highly unlikely McClain ever returns to the NFL as a player. All of the adversity he’s currently facing appears to be self-inflicted.
The problem with flaming out of the league and being only 33 with a little over $24 million in career earnings is you have a lot of life left to live. Even if he only makes it to 50, given the sport he played and his lifestyle choices. That’s another 17 years.
What’s he going to do during that time? Does he have any interests outside of football that he can turn into a legitimate venture?
When he retired in 2013 and moved back to Tuscaloosa to get his life together things appeared to begin moving in the right direction. Can he find the systems and support to get himself back on track?
No word as of yet on a court date for this latest arrest.
