:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13212747/152651398.0.jpg)
Linebacker Rolando McClain was thought to be a smart acquisition by the Baltimore Ravens this offseason. Down a legend at inside linebacker, they were looking to establish depth, but likely, more than anything, have a veteran to pace a rookie.
Polamalu's presence is needed at OTAs
Leadership will again be essential for the Steelers as the offseason program continues with OTAs.
So they signed McClain. Now, facing a possible suspension, McClain has announced his retirement from the NFL.
"Rolando let me know that he plans to retire from the NFL," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said Wednesday. "We have placed him on the Reserve/Retired list."
So that was fun while it lasted. All the same for Baltimore, though, they drafted Kansas State's Arthur Brown in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and perhaps McClain just didn't want to bother competing for a position he wasn't likely to win this year, and certainly wouldn't win in the long run.
McClain was the 10th overall pick by Oakland in 2010.
Cleveland Browns
Speaking of Oakland, Browns return man Josh Cribbs signed a free agent deal with the Raiders Wednesday, formally ending his time in Cleveland.
The Steelers wish he could have signed with a team on another planet.
One of the all-time great Steelers killers, Cribbs will see his favorite nemesis again this year, as the Steelers travel to Oakland in Week 8.
Cincinnati Bengals
Apparently there is some consternation in Cincinnati over whether free agent signee and former Steelers OLB James Harrison will understand terminology differences between the base defenses of his former and new team. The Bengals play out of a 4-3 base, although they aren't in their base all that often.
Wallace: Tannehill might be able to throw farther than Ben
Harrison 35, has played the game of football for a long time. Terminology isn't going to be any more of a concern than simply learning a new scheme will be. It's not rocket surgery, it's football. Plus, he's got minicamps and training camp to learn it, so we'll have to find a better reason to convince ourselves Harrison will fail in Cincinnati.