Dallas Cowboys LB Rolando McClain slapped with indefinite suspension

Rolando McClain was suspended indefinitely by the NFL on Friday, likely ending his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys.

McClain was pegged as a starter at middle linebacker before the season began but was instead suspended 10 regular-season games for a violation of the NFL's drug policy. The indefinite punishment came after he reportedly missed a drug test.

McClain's 10-game ban was set to expire last week, which would have made him eligible to report to work with teammates for the first time to begin Week 12 preparations and possibly play in the team's annual Thanksgiving Day game. The first-place Cowboys beat the Washington Redskins without McClain on Thanksgiving and edged the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday to improve to an NFL-best 11-1.

The league drug-testing protocol requires suspended players or those in the NFL's program for previous offenders to participate in regular tests. McClain did not show up, according to multiple reports.

NFL Network reported the Cowboys doubted McClain, the 27-year-old former Alabama linebacker who was a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders, wanted to resume his football career before the indefinite ban was announced.

McClain re-signed in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent on a one-year, $5 million contract. He missed the first four games of the 2015 season serving a ban for violating the same policy.

McClain recovered from offseason surgery in 2015 to play 11 games and record 97 tackles, two sacks, nine tackles for loss, 10 pressures, one interception and three pass breakups.

McClain and the Cowboys appeared headed for a split at the end of this season. There was acrimony about his absence and lack of conditioning during the offseason.

Coach Jason Garrett said when McClain missed June minicamp, he was dealing with a family matter in Alabama. But McClain previously retired from the league in 2014, only to make a comeback with the Baltimore Ravens, who eventually traded him to Dallas.