Rolando McClain Era in Oakland Officially Ends Before It Even Began

According to ESPN's Bill Williamson, the long-awaited release of Rolando McClain has been executed by the Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders were expected to cut ties with several players this offseason, but McClain's release was the most expected.  

It became clear that McClain's days in silver and black were numbered when he had an argument with head coach Dennis Allen during a midseason practice that resulted in a two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.  

McClain's playing time was already dipping in favor of rookie Miles Burris in the nickel package because of McClain's weaknesses in pass coverage.  After the suspension, McClain was left off the active roster in the Raiders' remaining games to close out the 2012 season.

When McClain was drafted, he was supposed to be the next great linebacker in the franchise's history of great linebackers, including Ted Hendricks, Matt Millen or Rod Martin and so on.  

McClain never came close to greatness with Oakland, but with the rumored interest in another Raiders draft-bust (per CBS Sports), there will surely be someone interested in McClain.

Surely the Raiders would have liked some compensation for McClain, perhaps in a trade for a late-round draft pick, but McClain's release in itself is addition by subtraction; he was a distraction and his absence will benefit the Raiders.

The nail in the coffin for McClain's brief tenure with the team came as Reggie McKenzie stockpiled linebackers during free agency.  Among the additions, Nick Roach could take over for McClain in the middle of the defense.