Ha Ha Clinton-Dix skipped organized team activities. That may -- or may not -- have been over his desire for a new contract.
The Packers safety winked twice when answering questions about his absence. His godmother, Alisa Dorsett, died last month after suffering a heart attack while in Alabama for his college graduation. That was at least part of the reason for his absence.
“I had a lot of freedom,” Clinton-Dix said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “It’s not meant for me to be here. I don’t have a [workout] bonus to be here, so that definitely played a big role in me not being here, honestly, along with my godmother not making it. It’s kind of like, I can just stay home with my family and enjoy my family time while I have the downtime. When the season kicks off, it’s just me up here. That’s life. S--- goes on from time to time, but I’m excited not to have that bonus in there, though, honestly, because I would have definitely been here for my money.
“You can’t buy time. So just to have that freedom to be able to get away, I think that was a plus not having it, honestly.”
Clinton-Dix returned to Green Bay on Tuesday to avoid the $84,435 fine for missing the three days of the mandatory minicamp. He is scheduled to make $5.957 million this season on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal.
Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor held out in 2015, missing the first two games of the season while seeking a new deal. He signed a three-year contract extension in August 2017.
Clinton-Dix said he won’t hold out.
“What would holding out do?” Clinton-Dix said. “Kam’s not me. He’s nowhere near me. 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.”