Rolando McClain bombs Ravens workout, continues to be a bust

Aug. 17, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oakland Raiders linebacker (55) Rolando McClain against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Raider Nation knows former Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain’s professional and personal issues all too well as the prospect once touted as the next great Oakland linebacker has allowed issues in his life and a poor attitude towards professionalism force an early “retirement” that has taken him out of the game.

Now getting a second chance with the Baltimore Ravens it appears that McClain is still not ready for the NFL, both physically and maturity-wise as McClain bombed his workout with the team in addition to showing up late according to NFL.com

From NFL.com

"NFL Media’s Aditi Kinkhabwala reported that the retired linebacker, as expected, attempted to stage a workout with the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday. According to someone apprised of the session, McClain bombed.The former first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders couldn’t finish his conditioning test and failed to do any of the drills. Icing on the cake? McClain showed up late, Kinkhabwala was told.It’s not a good look for the 24-year-old defender who announced earlier this month that he was “training and preparing as if I’m going to come back,” calling his brief retirement a chance to get his “priorities straight.”Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has shown significant faith in McClain, who briefly latched on with Baltimore last offseason before walking away from the game. The two share Alabama ties, but that won’t be enough if McClain isn’t in playing shape. The Ravensalready have linebackers Daryl Smith and Arthur Brown in the mix."

The workout that McClain reportedly failed to complete was quite simple according to Ravens Insider Aaron Wilson as the former top NCAA linebacker couldn’t complete six sets of timed 150 yard sprints. Fairly standard expectations for a professional football player to be able to complete, especially one who was at one time a first overall pick.

McClain has had numerous problems in his personal life that have been widely documented, including an ESPN piece profiling his troubles that helped cause his nasty divorce from the Raiders by way of early retirement. Still it is hard not to roll your eyes at another story of McClain ruining his NFL chances by simply not putting the work in that is required. While some of his inabilities to succeed like many thought he would may boil down to unfortunate personal issues, in professional sports there are sadly no sympathies for not being able to put in the work to be able to do the job that is expected of you. For now Rolando McClain is unable to do that and is remaining as one of the biggest busts of this era because of that.