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GREEN BAY — Ha Ha Clinton-Dix returned to
Lambeau Field for Green Bay Packers minicamp after the safety cited
personal issues for missing some voluntary offseason workouts.
Clinton-Dix said that the death of his
godmother following a heart attack hit him hard. She was a school
principal who played a formative role in Clinton-Dix's upbringing.
"I learned everything. I learned the
principles of being a young man, not taking anything for granted,"
he said.
Having the opportunity to spend time with
family meant a lot to him.
"But, you know, my family means
everything to me," Clinton-Dix said after practice Tuesday.
"If I have the opportunity to be home with them, I would love to be
home with them."
The safety's absence during some
voluntary workouts in May and early June was notable given that the
Packers have a new defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine. A Pro Bowler in
2016, Clinton-Dix is part of the core of a defense hoping to improve
following a lackluster 2017 season.
He's also entering the option year of the
rookie contract signed after being drafted in the first round in 2014
out of Alabama.
Asked why he missed some of the workouts,
Clinton-Dix first said "family issues," then winked .
Asked if his absence wasn't contract
related, the fifth-year pro replied "personal issues."
Later, Clinton-Dix said he had no
deadline to get a new deal done. He doesn't sound like someone who plans
to hold out, either.
"What would it do, though?"
Clinton-Dix said. "You're just wasting your time, really. You're
getting fined and fined and fined. I'm a guy that, I need my money, man.
That's why I'm here now. I need my money."
Clinton-Dix was in Green Bay for three
weeks at the start of the offseason program in April. He had his
team-issued tablet computer the entire time while he was away to watch
practices.
If there were any questions, Clinton-Dix
would contact position coach Joe Whitt. A member of the coaching staff
would get back to him with an answer, or send another video clip to
help.
"Well, you guys can take attendance.
It's a mandatory minicamp, so things step up. But I feel really good, Ha
Ha all the way through," coach Mike McCarthy said. "We've had
change, we've transitioned through that."
McCarthy followed recent tradition and
excused 16 veterans with six or more years of experience from this
week's minicamp, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers. So practices this
week can especially help rookies or younger players lower on the depth
chart make impressions on the coaching staff.
Still, any time on the practice field
with a player with Pro Bowl potential such as Clinton-Dix can help as
the Packers hope to finish the offseason program strong before going on
summer break.
"Scheme or not, all you've got to do
is (say) 'You've got this, you've got this' and he's going to go out
there and play," second-year cornerback Kevin King said.
"Playbook-wise, I'm not worried about that. Ha Ha is going to be Ha
Ha."
Always confident, Clinton-Dix used word
play when asked if minicamp was a time when he could play catch-up.
Pettine's scheme appears to play to Clinton-Dix's strength and allow him
to spend more time closer to the line of scrimmage, rather than 20 yards
out.
"I love ketchup. Love it on my hot
dogs, love it on my hamburgers and I love it on my fries,"
Clinton-Dix said. "Catch-up won't be a problem."
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