Cowboys' McClain Not On Team Flight

By ESPN

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain was not on the team's charter flight to California on Thursday, and he has until 2 p.m. PT Friday to report to training camp or be subject to a fine, if not worse.

The Cowboys have not released McClain, who is set to be suspended the first 10 games of the season for a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy.

Coach Jason Garrett did not want to comment on McClain's absence.

"We'll talk about that stuff later," he said after signing autographs for military personnel at Naval Air Station Point Mugu after the team's arrival.

Garrett, owner and general manager Jerry Jones, and executive vice president Stephen Jones will hold a state of the Cowboys news conference Friday.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Stephen Jones said of McClain's status: "That's another one that's a work in progress. We'll leave it at that."

The Cowboys re-signed McClain to a one-year deal worth as much as $5 million earlier in the offseason. He received a $750,000 signing bonus.

If the Cowboys cut him, he would cost $750,000 against the cap, but the Cowboys would gain roughly $2.6 million in cap room due to his $1.25 million base salary and $1.375 million in per-game roster bonuses. It would also be possible to earn a cap credit in 2017 for part of McClain's signing bonus.

McClain did not participate in organized team activities and missed most of the voluntary offseason program. He reported to the mandatory minicamp in June but did not practice because he was not in good enough condition.

After McClain's suspension was announced, the Cowboys signed veteran linebacker Justin Durant.

Gordon Returns to Browns After Suspension

Josh Gordon says he is returning to the Cleveland Browns a different man, one more willing and ready to accept help and support from others.

Those were Gordon's words Thursday in his first public comments since he was reinstated by the NFL from a one-year ban.

Gordon did not apologize for missing the 2015 season due to multiple violations of the NFL's substance-abuse policy, but he did say he was "tremendously excited" to be given another chance and "grateful" the Browns took him back.

"I definitely think I'm a different person," he said. "If you haven't changed over a period of time, that's a bad thing. I think me standing here is a testament to that. Most people might not see it that way. That just comes with the territory of me being who I am, considering my past."

Gordon said he had taken the necessary steps "to better myself as a person off the field just as much as on." He did not answer when asked if he went to rehab but promised he is much more willing to accept help.