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Cowboys' Rolando McClain suspended 10 games

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain has been suspended 10 games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, the league confirmed Thursday.

Adam Schefter and Todd Archer of ESPN were the first to report the news.

It's the second year in a row McClain will be suspended to begin the season, as he sat out the first four games of 2015 for violating the same policy.

Despite his off-field issues, McClain has excelled with the Cowboys since coming out of retirement in 2014. The team signed him to a one-year, $5-million contract in the offseason.

After missing OTAs to deal with a "family situation," Cowboys' coaches were said to be unhappy with the lack of involvement from McClain. Owner Jerry Jones came to his defense, saying the team would cut him some slack because his family was located in Alabama.

The 10-game suspension may be the end of the line for McClain in Dallas, as it's unlikely the sentence will be reduced and another violation would mean he'd have to sit out a full year.

In 25 games with the Cowboys, McClain has tallied 161 tackles, three sacks, and three interceptions.

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