Oakland Raiders: Rolando McClain reports that he's been waived
By Steve Corkran


scorkran@bayareanewsgroup.commercurynews.com

Posted: 11/28/2012 03:47:57 PM PST
November 29, 2012 12:9 AM GMTUpdated: 11/28/2012 04:09:32 PM PST


Oakland Raiders' Rolando McClain (55) celebrates a play against the San Diego Chargers in the first quarter at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. on Monday, Sept. 10, 2012. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff) ( Nhat V. Meyer )ALAMEDA -- Raiders starting middle linebacker Rolando McClain said Wednesday that he no longer is with the team. The Raiders countered by saying McClain still is on their 53-man roster.

Then again, this might be just a matter of semantics, given the deadline to waive McClain came and went without a move being made.

"Officially no longer an Oakland Raider!!" McClain posted on his Facebook page.

He then added, "Well technically I am. But I'm mentally done. Just waiting on my papers" and "I'd like to be anywhere besides here."

What we know for certain is that McClain did not practice Wednesday because of what coach Dennis Allen called "team-related issues."

When asked if he cared to share more

Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain (55) and defensive end Matt Shaughnessy (77) walk on the sideline in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in Miami, Fla. The Dolphins won 35-13. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) ( Lynne Sladky )details, Allen said: "No more details, no more comments. Just team-related issues."

The Raiders have until 1 p.m. Thursday to submit McClain to the waiver wire for the transaction to kick in that day. A team spokesman said he doesn't know whether that's going to take place.

McClain was Oakland's first-round pick in 2010, the No. 8 overall selection, out of Alabama. He started from the outset but has failed to live up to the lofty expectations of a player so highly regarded coming out of college, where he was a standout for the Crimson Tide.

Allen demoted McClain from an every-down player to someone that played only in the base package after four games this season. Rookie Miles Burris supplanted McClain whenever the Raiders went to their nickel package.

McClain is earning $970,000 this season in base salary. He is slated to make $4,005,000 in 2013, $4,805,000 in 2014 and $2,665,000 in 2015.

If McClain gets waived, then veteran Omar Gaither is in line to start in McClain's place Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Gaither was signed Nov. 14 and played on special teams the past two games