Former Alabama star and current Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain was arrested Thursday on misdemeanor assault, firearms and other charges for allegedly firing a gun during a fight in his hometown in Alabama.
McClain, a crucial piece of Alabama's 2009 National Championship team, reportedly held a gun to a man's head during an altercation and the man apparently begged McClain for his life. McClain then proceeded to remove the gun from the man's head and fired it up in the air, according to a statement.
"The victim told officers that following the fight, he crawled to his car. He said that when he reached his car, Rolando McClain produced a pistol and aimed it at him," the police statement said. "He said that while he was still on the ground, McClain walked over to him and put the gun to his head."
The victim told officers that "he begged McClain not to shoot him and that McClain took the gun away from his head, held it next to his ear and fired it."
No one was shot, but police say a man was injured in the altercation and drove himself to the hospital where he was eventually treated and released.
The linebacker was released on a $2,000 bond by police. He is currently facing charges of assault, reckless endangerment, menacing and firing a gun within the city limits. Another man, Jerradius Willingham was also charged with assault and was released on a $500 bond. The man, 23, is presumed to be one of McClain's friends.McClain's attorney, Billy C. Burney II, said the linebacker denies firing the gun and said he was not involved in the fight.
Burney said in a statement, "Mr. McClain asserts his innocence. We are confident that Mr. McClain will be cleared of all charges."
McClain was also facing legal problems in Alabama already before his arrest.
The Raiders organization had no comment on the matter.
Raiders coach Hue Jackson said that McClain will play this week when the Raiders travel to Miami to play the Dolphins. He did not say for certainty that McClain will play, but he will "as far as I know".
"I can tell you we understand and know exactly what's going on, and we feel very comfortable with our information and we don't have any further comment at this time," Jackson said.
On Friday, Jackson said that he was quite disturbed by the allegations that have arisen about McClain.
"I'm disturbed by everything. Anything that hurts this organization or hurts this football team and what we talk about and what we're trying to become, I'm very disturbed by it," Jackson told reporters on Friday. "There's a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things, and obviously there was something done wrong."
There is no doubt that McClain will face some type of punishment by the organization and the NFL and Jackson was not hiding his dismay whatsoever when he talked to reporters on Friday. He said he will not wait for the NFL to hand down their punishment before he and the organization make their decision.
"I have 52 other players that are doing things the right way and doing things as I see they should be doing it and we're getting ready to play a game," Jackson proclaimed. "I will deal with Rolando when that time comes."
"I'm not going to let anybody stop this train from where it's going. I don't care who it is, and I think the team's that way. And this team has taken on my personality, and I know that and I believe that," he would go on to say. "We're not going to get concerned about anybody that's not on the train the right way. We're going to get ready to go to Miami to win a football game. That's all they know, that's all I know, and that's what we're going to be concerned about."
McClain had reportedly been in Alabama to attend his grandfather's funeral and he missed his third straight practice on Friday. It is not known if he will join the rest of his team in Miami.
He is currently the Raiders' second-leading tackler and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game.
McClain currently has 57 tackles and two sacks this season.
The linebacker was chosen eighth overall in the 2010 draft. McClain was a vital part of Alabama's 2009 team that won the national championship.
