Rolando McClain Suspended: Latest Details and Reaction Surrounding Cowboys LB

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain's up-and-down NFL career took another hit Thursday as the former University of Alabama star was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

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McClain Suspended for Cowboys' First Four Regular-Season Games

Thursday, July 2

McClain enjoyed a bounce-back season with the Cowboys in 2014 as he made 87 tackles, nabbed two interceptions and was among Dallas' top defensive players, but his upswing didn't last long.

According to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports, the 25-year-old former first-round pick will be forced to miss the first month of the regular season after violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

As Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News pointed out, McClain was already facing discipline prior to the suspension:

Although the exact nature of the violation has not been revealed, McClain expressed remorse in a statement, courtesy of the NFL on ESPN:

McClain has been arrested on multiple occasions since entering the NFL for everything from assault to disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

He has also twice retired from the game of football. McClain initially announced his retirement in 2013 as a member of the Baltimore Ravens after his release from the Oakland Raiders. He then attempted a comeback with Baltimore in 2014 but once again retired.

That was short-lived, though, as McClain was traded to the Cowboys and subsequently returned to the field. His third attempt at pro football culminated in the 2014 season being his best of what's been a roller-coaster ride through the league.

He was so solid, in fact, that Dallas decided to re-sign him, although that move isn't paying dividends as of yet.

McClain is among the most troubled players in recent memory, but he has received a multitude of chances due to his immense talent. He showed what he is capable of last year when he was focused on football, but he has stumbled far too many times along the way.

The Cowboys are likely to stick with him since that is Jerry Jones' modus operandi; however, he has put Dallas in a very difficult position since its already thin defense just got even thinner for the first four games of the season.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.