July 02, 2015
Brandon Wade/AP
Rolando McClain shows where he'll be sitting for the first four weeks of the season.
The Eagles' offense will not have to face a few key opposing defenders in two of their first three games, as it was revealed that players on the Cowboys and Jets will face suspensions.
In the Eagles' Week 2 game against the Cowboys, the Eagles were already going to miss DE Greg Hardy, who is suspended for 10 games, pending an appeal to the league. Now the Cowboys will also be without middle linebacker Rolando McClain.
#Cowboys LB Rolando McClain suspended without pay for first 4 games of 2015 for violating @NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 2, 2015
In previous stops in the NFL, McClain retired from football twice, racked up a laundry list of arrests, and was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. The Cowboys traded for McClain last offseason, and got unexpectedly good play from him. But, with any player with a long history of character issues, they're likely to continue, and the Cowboys will be without McClain in their first four game against quality offenses in the Giants, Eagles, Falcons, and Saints.
Additionally, in Week 3 the Eagles will not have to face elite Jets 3-4 defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, who also got popped.
Jets DT Sheldon Richardson suspended without pay for the first 4 games of 2015 for violating NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 2, 2015
Richardson had a very impressive 66 tackles and 8 sacks from his 3-4 DL spot a year ago. He was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2013, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2014.
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