The kid is a disaster between the ears. You never heard a peep out of McClain when he had Saban to keep him on the straight and narrow. He became a leader and represented the University well. He was just never able to function outside of that environment once he knew he was no longer held accountable for the decisions he makes.
I know the kid personally and the complete mess that he comes from in regards to his family. He was always a thug in high school until he managed to make it on campus in Tuscaloosa. I watched the police take the bracelet off his ankle every Friday night so he could play football for Decatur. He played his entire senior year of high school on house arrest, which most people don't know.
Everybody really figured he had matured from his time at Alabama, but it turns out he just didn't. Everytime he comes back to Decatur he goes straight to those thugs he hung around in high school and gun fire soon follows. If he was smart, he'd stay the hell out of Decatur all together. He'll get killed one of these days if he don't.
I figured Oakland was as good a place as any for him to end up because it was so far away from where he tends to get into trouble. He can't resist it though.
I think the Raiders could have traded him for something.. anything. Even if it's for 50 cents on the dollar, rather than cut him and get nothing. The fact that they're willing to do that says it all. Either they're crazy or he is.... I'll side with the latter.
He could've been as good as he wanted to be. He just doesn't want it. Football is not a priority to him and he'll soon be out of chances. One day he'll look back and realize what a mistake he made.... if he lives long enough.