Rolando McClain vs Eric Berry: Who Will Have the Better Career?

by Rich Langford on Jun 22, 2011 9:40 PM PDT

ESPN is currently polling readers on their thoughts about the 2010 AFC West first-round draft class. They want to know which AFC West first-round rookie will go onto have the best career. Shockingly, given the amount of love he has received, Tim Tebow is not winning the poll.

The Chiefs Eric Berry is currently winning with 43 percent of the vote. Rolando McClain is second with 29 percent. The aforementioned Tebow is third with 16 percent. Ryan Matthews is fourth with 10 percent and Demaryius Thomas is a distant last with three percent.

For me, this is a two horse race between Berry and McClain. I am not a Tebow believer, and I am certainly not a Matthews or Thomas believer.

If I was being completely honest with myself I would vote for Berry. I am a little concerned that McClain will never make the jump to a pro bowl player, and I am really not all that sure he cares. For all the talk of McClain being a hard worker I don't see it.

I am not saying he is rolling into things with a JaWalrus level of preparation, but he doesn't strike me as a guy that is going to put in extra work to gain the extra inch. He carries a sense of entitlement about him. Hopefully, I am wrong about this, and I am not saying he is going to be a flop—I'm just not sure he will ever make a pro bowl.

Anyway go vote on the ESPN poll if you wish, and vote here. I am only putting up to options because I want to take the Tebow fanaticism out of this equation, as well as the lunacy by leaving of out Matthews or Thomas.

Poll

Who will have the better career?

Rolando McClain

214 votes

Eric Berry

94 votes

308 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

When the Queefs took Berry

I let loose the C and F bombs because I knew they had gotten the third (possibly even the second, depending on how Bradford went) best player in the draft. He’s a special talent and is gonna be giving us trouble for years.

Death Ro, on the other hand…I see him becoming a very solid MLB, maybe one or two Pro Bowl nods as an alternate but not much more.

"In football, I root for the Oakland Raiders because they hire castoffs, outlaws, malcontents, and fuck -ups, they have lots of penalties, fights, and paybacks, and because Al Davis told the rest of the pig NFL owners to go get fucked. Someday, the Raiders will be strong again, and they will dip the ball in shit and shove it down the throats of the wholesome, white, heartland teams that pray together and don't deliver late hits." - George Carlin.

by Screwfish on Jun 22, 2011 10:47 PM PDT reply actions

Barring injury, as hard as it is to vote against my Raider Ro...

Berry looks poised to win by a lot right now. But God willing, Rolando will be the next Mike backers of the ages. He’s dedicated and works hard enough, and comes from a great pedigree under Saban. The sky’s the limit under Biekert.

Ask me again mid season!

"tough times call for perseverance and a tough mind. I have been told that I can't play football before. We all know what happened with that. #neverquit"--Mark Herzlich

""The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."--Hunter S. Thompson

by brhynno on Jun 22, 2011 10:51 PM PDT reply actions

+1

Raider 4 Life

by Raider1957 on Jun 22, 2011 11:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Does Ro's sense of entitlement concern you at all

or do you think that is in my head?

I was the walrus, but now I'm John

by Rich Langford on Jun 23, 2011 12:06 AM PDT up reply actions

its in your head

I know absolutely nothing about this guy but if he is fast I say sign him up.
Long live Al

I think it's about time we all just agreed that NaS is the greatest of all-time.

by Ozraider on Jun 23, 2011 3:12 AM PDT up reply actions

By contrast, I love Ro in that aspect. A top ten pick who keeps his mouth shut

and let’s his play on the field speak for itself.

"tough times call for perseverance and a tough mind. I have been told that I can't play football before. We all know what happened with that. #neverquit"--Mark Herzlich

""The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."--Hunter S. Thompson

by brhynno on Jun 23, 2011 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions

It's not

all in your head, the kid needs to make a major turn-around and he can be a really special talent.

- PlightGeist

by PlightGeist on Jun 28, 2011 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Berry Was Indeed Very Good And Fit Into A Position Best For Him....Don't Feel The Same For "Ro"...

DeathRo was thrown into the center stage way too early in my opinion…And also that unit was not very well coached…He had ten times as much on his plate as Berry did…I think he gives us a better look later when things around him are a little more stable…

If judging just by what was seen last season Berry has to get the nod…But let’s be reasonable here…We’re talking about a “S” as opposed to the “MLB” who is the “QB” of our “D”…Almost apples n oranges…

by PantyRaider on Jun 23, 2011 2:23 AM PDT reply actions

Apples & Oranges !!!! Not even close !!!

MLB vs S, Hmmmmmmm !!!!!! Berry vs McClain(aka)DeathRo !!! Too say who’s going to be better at this time, is a hard lick to think about. Now if both were playing the same position, maybe !!! But Ro took on way more as a rookie than Berry. And I too thought it was maybe a bit much, considering Alabama ran a 3/4 defense. Berry on the other hand, it was business as usual !!! He’s been playing the same spot for years, whereas DeathRo is not only playing a new position, but also calling the plays. If not for the fact we picked up the Lit’l Black Pony, Ford(no disrespect, just hard coming up with a suitable nicname for him that fits) with that 4th round pick we got for Morrison. At the time of the trade, my thinking was that was a mistake. Let Ro move to the middle/ mike, and let Morrison play the sam, while still making the defensive calls. Barring injury, i think they both will be Probowlers for years to come, Watch, when The Raiders put up a 12 to 14 win season!!!! Then come ask this question !!!

by papabegood on Jun 23, 2011 4:02 AM PDT up reply actions

If only

It had gone down that way…

- PlightGeist

by PlightGeist on Jun 28, 2011 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions

Death Ro

If u know this kids stats n work ethic n college. Then u should know hell b just that, a pro bowler who shuts his critics mouths. Remember RO is a kid transitioning n2 the NFL. Learning the do’s n donts, managing his time n responsibilities outside football, new playbook n system @ a position that’s difficult to learn. Plus his team mates n the rest of the league he’s playing against. Oh yea! the speed of the game as well. Some of u being a little hard on the kid. I bet u he gets over 100 tackles with assist, couple int’s n a handful of sacks this year. Then u critics b all on his nuts. Ro do the damn thing n shut these haters mouths. Tired of hearing them talk smack.

by Big Daddy Papa Smurf on Jun 23, 2011 3:14 AM PDT reply actions

Great Minds, Great Minds BDPS !!!

I think we’re on trhe same page !!!!

by papabegood on Jun 23, 2011 4:06 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't think anyone is being overly hard on Ro. In fact almost all have pointed out it's really too hard to say

and that the verdict is still out. No one can question Ro had more obstacles and challenges impeding immediate success, and he did pretty damn well despite all that. I’m expecting big things, and am fairly certain, I’ll vote differently mid-season, as would most of us here who edged Berry for those same reasons.

I cannot wait to see Ro develop under Biekert.

"tough times call for perseverance and a tough mind. I have been told that I can't play football before. We all know what happened with that. #neverquit"--Mark Herzlich

""The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."--Hunter S. Thompson

by brhynno on Jun 23, 2011 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Jesus man I once tooke you seriously... No more...

- PlightGeist

by PlightGeist on Jun 28, 2011 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Eric Berry

is a once in a generation safety. Rolando McClain will be a very good MLB, but he’s no Ray Lewis. He’s a poor man’s Demeco Ryans, which is not a bad thing, but it’s far less important than an Ed Reed or Ronnie Lott type safety prospect.

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on Jun 23, 2011 1:18 PM PDT reply actions

I think eric berry may have the better career

but i think mcclain will have the opportunity to cause much more of an impact. Good safety play is necessary for every strong defensive team, but a solid MLB is much more value than a solid safety.

Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!!

by naq92 on Jun 23, 2011 2:09 PM PDT reply actions