The San Francisco 49ers face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, and it’s fitting our opponent preview piece today was about them. The Cowboys got some bad news on Thursday, as linebacker Rolando McClain has been suspended for ten games, and DeMarcus Lawrence’s four-game suspension has been upheld. Both players will miss the Week 4 matchup in Santa Clara. They join Randy Gregory, who received a four-game suspension back in February.
Cowboys just learned that Rolando McClain has been given a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) June 30, 2016
On top of that, DeMarcus Lawrence's 4-game suspension has been upheld by the league. No reduction.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) June 30, 2016
Cowboys fans don’t sound overly shocked by either of these developments, but they are still a big deal. The Cowboys will get Tony Romo back, and if he can stay healthy, they’re a strong contender in the NFC East. However, the defense has had problems, and losing McClain and Lawrence only hurts a unit already facing numerous questions.
It was a busy day of suspensions in the NFL. Johnny Manziel was handed a four-game suspension, although he is busy in Cabo right now. He has said he will go sober on July 1. Consider me skeptical. This suspension is for violating the substance abuse policy. He still faces a potential personal conduct policy suspension for allegedly assaulting his now ex-girlfriend. Additionally, New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson has been suspended one game for violating the personal conduct policy. He was arrested for driving at speeds as high as 143 mph while trying to avoid police in St. Louis. He was accompanied by a 12-year-old relative, and police reported a strong odor of marijuana in the car and discovered a loaded, semiautomatic handgun (owned legally).
I’m guessing the NFL was getting the traditional holiday Friday news dump in a day early, but maybe Friday will bring even more craziness.