The Baltimore Ravens and linebacker Rolando McClain are working on a contract, sources told NFL.com's Albert Breer on Wednesday morning.
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McClain was the No. 8 overall pick in 2010, but recently he was cut by the Oakland Raiders. He had 99 tackles and five sacks in 2011, but never quite fit with the Raiders. McClain's strength always has been stopping the run, but off-the-field issues certainly played a role in his release.
McClain still has a ton of potential at 23 years old, and the Ravens don't have a penciled-in replacement for Ray Lewis. Defensive coordinator Dean Pees recently talked about moving Courtney Upshaw inside. McClain would join fellow Alabama products Upshaw and Terrence Cody on the Ravens' roster.
"It's a move that can't go wrong and I'm looking forward to playing in Baltimore as the Ravens run the same or very similar defense as I was a part of at the University of Alabama," McClain told Madison Weekly News reporter Bob Labbe. "Ray Lewis retired after winning the Super Bowl and I look to fill his slot. No one can fill his shoes, but I can fill his slot. I just want to fill out the shoes of Rolando McClain. This is a perfect fit for me personally.
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"The offseason program in Baltimore begins next week. I've been working out on my own. Playing football is like riding a bike. You never forget."
This might be the ideal chance for McClain to get his career back on track.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
