Rolando McClain Suspended for Drug Policy Violations: Latest Details, Comments

The Dallas Cowboys announced Friday that linebacker Rolando McClain has been suspended indefinitely without pay for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, per David Helman of the team's official website. 

McClain has not appeared on the field this season, as he was suspended for the first 10 weeks due to a previous substance abuse violation.   

He was going to be eligible to return from that initial suspension Nov. 21, per Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News, but he missed a drug test that landed him in even more hot water. 

Because he was in Stage 3 of the NFL's drug policy, per George, a missed drug test is considered a failed drug test. That means the league could suspend McClain for another calendar year, making him ineligible until December 2017.

This is the third time the 27-year-old has been suspended by the league since he was traded to the Cowboys in 2014. He was sidelined for the first four games of the 2015 season, also for drug issues. 

Breaking into the league in 2010 with the Oakland Raiders, McClain has been nothing but trouble since his arrival. He was suspended in 2012 after being kicked out of practice, which was followed by his release in 2013. 

In 2012 he was also convicted of assault, reckless endangerment and menacing and wrongful discharge of a firearm, per Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. 

After a short retirement stint in 2013, he was picked up by the Cowboys and recorded 87 total tackles and a sack as one of the team's best linebackers in 2014. 

While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did tell George that he wanted McClain back with the team before this latest suspension, the linebacker's future not only in Dallas but in the league could now be in serious doubt. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.