By Brandon George Follow @DMN_George bgeorge@dallasnews.com
Staff Writer
IRVING -- At first glance Wednesday, the first practice back for defensive end Greg Hardy and middle linebacker Rolando McClain didn't look very promising.
Hardy, on the far side of the field at Valley Ranch, was sucking on an inhaler, and McClain was sucking wind on the opposite end.
The Cowboys hope their defense gets a giant boost Sunday against New England with the return of Hardy and McClain from their four-game suspensions. But just how much the Cowboys can expect from them right away isn't clear.
Hardy, who has battled asthma most of his life, and McClain approach practice differently. Hardy's intensity is always high while McClain appears to go through the motions.
But the Cowboys are a tougher team with Hardy and McClain roaming the field.
"It's a little bit of fight, swagger. They're good ball players," defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. "I think they absolutely love to play football. You like to get those types of men around you. So, it's nice to have them back."
Hardy appears to be in great shape. Unlike McClain, he wasn't allowed to attend team meetings and workout at the Cowboys' facility during his suspension. But Hardy said he worked out a few times a day while away from the team.
Hardy said this week he wants to come out "guns blazing" Sunday against the Patriots, but he hasn't played in a regular-season game in 13 months. Furthermore, he's played in only one regular-season game over the last 20 months because he's missed 19 consecutive games because of his domestic violence investigation.
The Cowboys are expected to start Hardy at right-side defensive end Sunday but will have to monitor his snaps as he works his way back.
Hardy has benefited by going through a full training camp with the Cowboys and playing in the preseason. Hardy had few impact plays in training camp, but club officials said he was working on different individual moves instead of honing in on what he does best.
Hardy could take awhile to return to his Pro Bowl level, but he'll need to pile up sacks quickly if he wants to get the most out of his incentive-laced one-year deal.
Any sack from Hardy will be an improvement. The Cowboys have yet to get a sack this season from a right-side defensive end, the key rush position in their scheme.
"I'm full of excitement and full of juice. I'm ready to go," Hardy said. "I have what they call fresh legs. I'm really excited to get out there on that grass or turf and see what they can do."
Unlike Hardy, McClain didn't benefit from a full training camp. McClain spent most of all of training camp working on the side, trying to get in shape as he recovered from offseason microscopic surgery on his right knee.
In his first season with the Cowboys last year, McClain finished second on the team with 108 tackles. He led Dallas with nine tackles for loss.
McClain played last season at about 259 pounds. But he was up to 270 in training camp and said this week he's still carrying the extra weight.
Early in his first practice back Wednesday, McClain was bending over, grabbing his knees as he waited to do individual drills. Defensive end Jeremy Mincey took notice.
"Looked a little winded," Mincey said, "but he was still Ro."
McClain said after his first practice back he was exhausted and that it would take him some time to return to football shape.
"Football shape is a little different," McClain said. "I feel like last year I was lighter, a lot lighter than what I am normally used to playing at, but 18 months off, you'll lose a little muscle mass. I got my weight back and I should be able to sustain it a lot longer going on throughout the year."
But how long will it take McClain to return to football shape?
"You don't know until you go out there and actually play," McClain said, "so we'll find out Sunday."
McClain is expected to start at middle linebacker against the Patriots but his snap count could also be limited as well with the Cowboys still using Anthony Hitchens at times in sub packages.
McClain said he worked out four or five times a week during his suspension. But he said his knee surgery set him back.
"But we are where we are now, so you make the best out of it," McClain said. "We've done a great job with the rehab guys, everybody in the treatment room. Obviously, with four games off, I feel fresher."
McClain was finally fully cleared by the Cowboys' medical staff late in training camp.
"But it's one thing to be cleared by the doctors to go. It's another totally different thing to be cleared in your own mind in the sense of just trusting it, moving it, going, thinking and reacting without thinking about the knee," McClain said. "So, I don't know. We'll find out."
Weak-side linebacker Sean Lee, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, will play beside McClain for the first time Sunday.
"I can guarantee one thing," Lee said Friday. "He's going to play hard and he's going to hit people."
Whether McClain and Hardy will be an instant hit, however, remains to be seen.
"Adding those guys, it's going to be great as far as energy, heart; hard-charging guys, some SOBs," Mincey said. "It's always good to have some SOBs."
Staff Writer
IRVING -- At first glance Wednesday, the first practice back for defensive end Greg Hardy and middle linebacker Rolando McClain didn't look very promising.
Hardy, on the far side of the field at Valley Ranch, was sucking on an inhaler, and McClain was sucking wind on the opposite end.
The Cowboys hope their defense gets a giant boost Sunday against New England with the return of Hardy and McClain from their four-game suspensions. But just how much the Cowboys can expect from them right away isn't clear.
Hardy, who has battled asthma most of his life, and McClain approach practice differently. Hardy's intensity is always high while McClain appears to go through the motions.
But the Cowboys are a tougher team with Hardy and McClain roaming the field.
"It's a little bit of fight, swagger. They're good ball players," defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. "I think they absolutely love to play football. You like to get those types of men around you. So, it's nice to have them back."
Hardy appears to be in great shape. Unlike McClain, he wasn't allowed to attend team meetings and workout at the Cowboys' facility during his suspension. But Hardy said he worked out a few times a day while away from the team.
Hardy said this week he wants to come out "guns blazing" Sunday against the Patriots, but he hasn't played in a regular-season game in 13 months. Furthermore, he's played in only one regular-season game over the last 20 months because he's missed 19 consecutive games because of his domestic violence investigation.
The Cowboys are expected to start Hardy at right-side defensive end Sunday but will have to monitor his snaps as he works his way back.
Hardy has benefited by going through a full training camp with the Cowboys and playing in the preseason. Hardy had few impact plays in training camp, but club officials said he was working on different individual moves instead of honing in on what he does best.
Hardy could take awhile to return to his Pro Bowl level, but he'll need to pile up sacks quickly if he wants to get the most out of his incentive-laced one-year deal.
Any sack from Hardy will be an improvement. The Cowboys have yet to get a sack this season from a right-side defensive end, the key rush position in their scheme.
"I'm full of excitement and full of juice. I'm ready to go," Hardy said. "I have what they call fresh legs. I'm really excited to get out there on that grass or turf and see what they can do."
Unlike Hardy, McClain didn't benefit from a full training camp. McClain spent most of all of training camp working on the side, trying to get in shape as he recovered from offseason microscopic surgery on his right knee.
In his first season with the Cowboys last year, McClain finished second on the team with 108 tackles. He led Dallas with nine tackles for loss.
McClain played last season at about 259 pounds. But he was up to 270 in training camp and said this week he's still carrying the extra weight.
Early in his first practice back Wednesday, McClain was bending over, grabbing his knees as he waited to do individual drills. Defensive end Jeremy Mincey took notice.
"Looked a little winded," Mincey said, "but he was still Ro."
McClain said after his first practice back he was exhausted and that it would take him some time to return to football shape.
"Football shape is a little different," McClain said. "I feel like last year I was lighter, a lot lighter than what I am normally used to playing at, but 18 months off, you'll lose a little muscle mass. I got my weight back and I should be able to sustain it a lot longer going on throughout the year."
But how long will it take McClain to return to football shape?
"You don't know until you go out there and actually play," McClain said, "so we'll find out Sunday."
McClain is expected to start at middle linebacker against the Patriots but his snap count could also be limited as well with the Cowboys still using Anthony Hitchens at times in sub packages.
McClain said he worked out four or five times a week during his suspension. But he said his knee surgery set him back.
"But we are where we are now, so you make the best out of it," McClain said. "We've done a great job with the rehab guys, everybody in the treatment room. Obviously, with four games off, I feel fresher."
McClain was finally fully cleared by the Cowboys' medical staff late in training camp.
"But it's one thing to be cleared by the doctors to go. It's another totally different thing to be cleared in your own mind in the sense of just trusting it, moving it, going, thinking and reacting without thinking about the knee," McClain said. "So, I don't know. We'll find out."
Weak-side linebacker Sean Lee, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, will play beside McClain for the first time Sunday.
"I can guarantee one thing," Lee said Friday. "He's going to play hard and he's going to hit people."
Whether McClain and Hardy will be an instant hit, however, remains to be seen.
"Adding those guys, it's going to be great as far as energy, heart; hard-charging guys, some SOBs," Mincey said. "It's always good to have some SOBs."
