debate on McClain

**silvanblax** · 06-01-2012, 11:32 AM

If you is in Reggie Mckenzie's position, keep or let McClain go?

**silvanblax** · 06-01-2012, 11:34 AM

For me, I would keep McClain because of what DA have done to broncos' defense so 50/50 McClain is a diamond in rough

**Da Swami** · 06-01-2012, 11:36 AM

Here is a novel idea.

Let's wait until we know all of the facts and this has played out.

Good grief!

**HITMAN** · 06-01-2012, 12:32 PM

The wise thing is to wait for the all the facts to be presented and wait for the outcome before making a decision either way... too many knee jerk reactions here regarding this situation.

**3 Lombardis** · 06-01-2012, 12:40 PM

Whatever they decide to do with McClain, I hope there is a very good Plan B.

**chucker** · 06-01-2012, 12:43 PM

I think you keep him for the moment unless you believe he is currently a disruptive influence on the team (which I have not heard).

Whether you keep him or not in the future would depend upon a number of factors:

Is he playing well enough? In my view, he has been a very replaceable player in his first two years but there wasn't enough cap room to replace him this year. Maybe another year and a different scheme will bring out some above average play from him. Because most of his contract is already paid, his on-field performance is enough to justify his current salary.

Was he ultimately found guilty? If he is found guilty and receives a sentence that prevents him from playing then you have to balance productivity, likeliness of future offenses, and the possibility that you may be able to recoup some of his bonus money.

If he is found not guilty, do you firmly believe he actually did what he was accused of? As we all know, being found guilty does not always mean that the accused is actually innocent. If I were McKenzie then I would sit down with McClain to talk about the incident and evaluate it myself. If I did not come out of that conversation with a pretty good feeling about McClain and his honesty then I would be deciding on when, not if, I cut ties with him. I would think this conversation should take place before a trial, and it is possible that it already has. There are certainly others who view it differently, but if I actually believed that McClain held a gun to a guys head and then fired it next to his head then I would not want him on the team.

Basically, there are no easy answers, and don't have all the information - thus everything I say begins with "ifs". Some guys clearly disagree, but in my mind McClain hasn't earned unconditional support with his performances on or off the field.

**Raider Ran** · 06-01-2012, 12:47 PM

It appears that since McClain is appealing and asking for a jury trial this may not take place until after the season. The League has said that they will not do anything until there is an official verdict. I would think they will let McClain play out this season and wait until something is decided.

**coogi** · 06-01-2012, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by chucker

I think you keep him for the moment unless you believe he is currently a disruptive influence on the team (which I have not heard).

Whether you keep him or not in the future would depend upon a number of factors:

Is he playing well enough? In my view, he has been a very replaceable player in his first two years but there wasn't enough cap room to replace him this year. Maybe another year and a different scheme will bring out some above average play from him. Because most of his contract is already paid, his on-field performance is enough to justify his current salary.

Was he ultimately found guilty? If he is found guilty and receives a sentence that prevents him from playing then you have to balance productivity, likeliness of future offenses, and the possibility that you may be able to recoup some of his bonus money.

If he is found not guilty, do you firmly believe he actually did what he was accused of? As we all know, being found guilty does not always mean that the accused is actually innocent. If I were McKenzie then I would sit down with McClain to talk about the incident and evaluate it myself. If I did not come out of that conversation with a pretty good feeling about McClain and his honesty then I would be deciding on when, not if, I cut ties with him. I would think this conversation should take place before a trial, and it is possible that it already has. There are certainly others who view it differently, but if I actually believed that McClain held a gun to a guys head and then fired it next to his head then I would not want him on the team.

Basically, there are no easy answers, and don't have all the information - thus everything I say begins with "ifs". Some guys clearly disagree, but in my mind McClain hasn't earned unconditional support with his performances on or off the field.

great post especially the last sentence..

**djh_raider** · 06-01-2012, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by silvanblax

If you is in Reggie Mckenzie's position, keep or let McClain go?

Reggie McKenzie is already on the record saying the Raiders will let the legal process play out before any decision will be made. The reasoning behind this is obvious. If you cut McClain because of his legal issues and he eventually is found innocent, you open yourself up to all sorts of litigation.

As of now, it is highly likley McClain's appeal will not go to trial before the 2012 season is over. In fact, McClain has not even be arraigned yet. According to local media, it usually takes 6 to 9 months from arraignment before the trial starts. Given this, McClain will not go to trial until January 2013 at the earliest.

Given this, McClain will be a Raider in 2012. What he does in that 2012 season will go more to determining his future, than a trial that may happen sometime afterward.

**cheapshotartist** · 06-01-2012, 01:54 PM

Based only on his play on the field I'd keep him (he is still under contract) and see what DA and the new DC can do with him. You can't judge a player based on how he played in our old defensive scheme. The off the field bullsh!t will be handled in court and delt with at a later date. Sh!t happens.

**cheapshotartist** · 06-01-2012, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by djh_raider

Given this, McClain will be a Raider in 2012. What he does in that 2012 season will go more to determining his future, than a trial that may happen sometime afterward.

^^^THIS^^^

**Raidermofojeff** · 06-01-2012, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Raider Ran

It appears that since McClain is appealing and asking for a jury trial this may not take place until after the season. The League has said that they will not do anything until there is an official verdict. I would think they will let McClain play out this season and wait until something is decided.

I've been thinking that, but still the NFL likes to take action regardless of a court verdict, or weather one exists.
I'm in the camp of " whatever Dennis and Reggie wish to do".

Time will tell!

**Hawaiian Raider** · 06-01-2012, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by silvanblax

If you is ...

**Raider Ran** · 06-01-2012, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Raidermofojeff

I've been thinking that, but still the NFL likes to take action regardless of a court verdict, or weather one exists.
I'm in the camp of " whatever Dennis and Reggie wish to do".

Time will tell!

If that was the case they would have done so after the original guilty verdict.

**bleed4raiders** · 06-01-2012, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by Raidermofojeff

I've been thinking that, but still the NFL likes to take action regardless of a court verdict, or weather one exists.
I'm in the camp of " whatever Dennis and Reggie wish to do".

Time will tell!

I believe they intend to wait until after all the proceedings aswell