Green Bay Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, a former first-round pick of the team, has gone back to school to get a criminal justice degree.
The former Alabama standout left the Crimson Tide after his junior season to enter the NFL draft. But recent events have forced him into the decision to go back to school.
Clinton-Dix re-enrolled at Alabama this past January and took classes throughout the offseason.
The safety’s primary goal here is to help bridge the gap between the African-American community and law enforcement.
“I understand what’s going on in this world,” Clinton-Dix said, via ESPN. “But cops have to go home at the end of the day. They have a family. They have to go home, too.”
At a time when NFL players and the law enforcement community are divided over the worrisome trend of police-involved shootings on American streets, it’s interesting that a player deeply involved in the issue would speak up in support of law enforcement.
“Growing up where I’m from, some people are afraid of cops, Clinton-Dix continued. “They don’t really like cops. And what a lot of people don’t realize is, they’re really not the bad guys. They’re really on our side, they’re really trying to help us out. And sometimes, we don’t understand that.”
There are some, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick included, that would take exception to these comments. To some of those fighting out against perceived inequality and racial-based police brutality, it’s an “us against them mentality.”
Much like Kaepernick taking a knee to protest and putting his mouth where his money is with generous donations, Clinton-Dix is also looking to make a difference here.
It won’t draw the headlines. It’s not the sexy story. But it sure can make an impact. To that we say, good for you.