Rolando McClain About to Get His Walking Papers. Should We Claim Him?

I am wondering if the more knowledgeable folks can explain this...if McClain gets released to waivers and some team picks him up from waivers, that team will pick up his contract correct?

And if no one picks him up from waivers, then the Raiders get stuck with paying him the rest of his guaranteed money, correct?

If this is the case...I wonder if teams would wait for him to go through waivers, given how shady the circumstances are behind his release.

Some teams try and wait, but a waiver gives you a definite answer based on your waiver position at a definite price (the player's current contract).

If a player clears waivers then the player has more of an advantage because he can negotiate with all the teams and maybe even end up with a better deal, plus possibly get paid from the other team (depending on offset language in the player's old contract).

Plus he can simply say no to a team he doesn't want to go to. He can't do that on a waiver claim

as long as he has stopped firing guns beside people's heads

Rolando McClain Contract, Salaries, and Transactions (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/oakland-raiders/rolando-mcclain/)


Ouch. His base salary is $4mil next year and $5.8 in 2014....can't afford him at that price.

Ouch. His base salary is $4mil next year and $5.8 in 2014....can't afford him at that price.

Remember we get some flexibility back in 2014...again, a gamble but if he becomes a replacement for fletcher I pay that price

I never would have guessed this thread would have been created before 2020. He was supposed to be the safest pick in his class. Even more so then the likes of Eric Berry, Joe Haden, and Russell OKUNGGGGGG! Top 15 linebackers seem to have a higher bust rate then QB's and DT's. Von Miller is the only college linebacker I can think of in recent years that met expectations.

Remember we get some flexibility back in 2014...again, a gamble but if he becomes a replacement for fletcher I pay that price

And you would be foolish for paying that price. If Fletcher were retiring after this season, then you would have a point. But there's no evidence to support that happening.

We can't commit that much money to an ILB in 2013 - when we have an 18MM cap penalty - if Fletcher is still on the team. Its a luxury we cant afford. Perry Riley has looked pretty good next to Fletcher. Id be shocked if Fletcher was not still starting on this team in the 2015 season... we should be grooming young, cheap talent to replace him, not spending big bucks on who will be come a free agent before Fletcher retires. If Fletcher retires and we dont have confidence in one of those young players replacing him, THEN its reasonable to spend on a pricey free agent.

Fletch has another year left at most. Signing Ro may expedite his departure

And you would be foolish for paying that price. If Fletcher were retiring after this season, then you would have a point. But there's no evidence to support that happening.

We can't commit that much money to an ILB in 2013 - when we have an 18MM cap penalty - if Fletcher is still on the team. Its a luxury we cant afford. Perry Riley has looked pretty good next to Fletcher. Id be shocked if Fletcher was not still starting on this team in the 2015 season... we should be grooming young, cheap talent to replace him, not spending big bucks on who will be come a free agent before Fletcher retires. If Fletcher retires and we dont have confidence in one of those young players replacing him, THEN its reasonable to spend on a pricey free agent.you'll be shocked

as long as he has stopped firing guns beside people's heads

I thought he just held it there while the man begged for his life. Jeez your making him seem emotionally unstable with the whole "firing" thing.
:)

Why the hate on Fletcher? Granted, he's been hurt regularly this year but he's played through it. While he's lost a step, he's still playing at a high level. Why the doom and gloom on Fletcher?