LB Rolando McClain returns to Raiders as backup/special teamer

Raiders coach Dennis Allen reinstated suspended LB Rolando McClain on Wednesday. (US Presswire)

Middle linebacker Rolando McClain still has a job with the Raiders, but he's no longer a starter.

McClain, who served a two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, returned to practice Wednesday after talking to coach Dennis Allen for the first time since his suspension.

According to Allen, McClain was actually demoted to second-team before he was suspended.

"Rolando and I met this morning," said Allen. "I laid out exactly what the expectations are for him moving forward. Really, that's about it. We're moving on from there. Rolando's part of this team, and we're going to move on."

McClain, through a team spokesperson, declined interview requests.

McClain worked with the second team Wednesday, behind MLB Omar Gaither, who will start again Sunday against Kansas City. Allen said his plans for McClain for the Kansas City game are what they were for the Cleveland game, before he was suspended.

"He was going to fill a backup role and work on special teams," Allen said. "That's where we're at, and we'll see what happens come game day."

McClain was reportedly thrown out of practice Nov. 28 after a heated exchange with Allen and was fined $15,000 earlier in the month for conduct detrimental to the team.  Soon after being kicked out of practice and told not to show up for practice the next day, McClain wrote on his Facebook page that he was going to be waived and that he looked forward to playing for a "real team."

The Raiders chose to suspend but not waive McClain. Allen was asked if keeping McClain, especially considering his Facebook comments, would be a distraction for his players.

"No, it won't be a distraction," Allen said. "We won't allow it to be a distraction. Our guys are professional. We move forward. Things get said in the heat of the moment, and we've got to move on."

Allen declined to say whether McClain apologized for the actions that led to his suspension. According to veteran DE Andre Carter, McClain didn't address the team as a whole. Carter, though, said he had no problem welcoming McClain back to the team and that he created no distraction. 

"He did his time. He did his suspension," Carter said. "It's just back to business for us. Our focus is Kansas City. Hopefully, he learned, whatever he was going through he learned his lesson and will just do what he has to do, do his job, maintain a low profile and finish these three games strong."

Gaither said McClain worked hard at practice and "wasn't disruptive or anything."

"We welcome him back. Everybody makes mistakes in life, and to be honest, I still don't know the whole story," Gaither said.  "You welcome him back with open arms, put him back in the mix, and you just go from there."

Carson Palmer, one of the team's captains, said McClain's situation won't distract the Raiders.

"It hasn't distracted for the past two or three weeks, whatever it's been," Palmer said. "The team is completely focused on beating the Kansas City Chiefs, and that's all we're going to worry about."