I owe a lot to Darren Perry. I don't think I'd be this far this early if it wasn't for him pushing me to run an extra second or showing me a play on film and telling me when I see it, that's the green light to go do it and don't be afraid to take that next step and take chances. That's what the game is about.
— Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
I never met him. But just growing up where Deacon Jones did, he motivated me to be great, showing the NFL was possible.
Anytime you get a win in this league, it's a blessing.
I could have made a lot of bad decisions, and some I did, but fortunately, I learned from those mistakes, and once they happened, I never really made those mistakes again.
Bad thing about playing at Alabama? I really didn't have any bad moments.
It keeps me humble just to know exactly where I came from and all the hard work I had to put in to be here. It feels good to reminisce about the past.
Leaving a legacy beyond just playing football has become extremely important to me.
I just want to continue getting better and build as a player.
I'm just grasping everything, getting as much knowledge as I can, and continuing to learn and not being afraid to take challenges and actually take action.
To be honest, football is my main goal. I never really had a backup plan.
I understand what's going on in this world. But cops have to go home at the end of the day. They have a family. They have to go home, too.
The league is crazy. It's hard to win in this league, and you have teams coming at you every week with players just as good as you.
Growing up as a little kid, you're always told, 'If you see the police, tell us.' So you're like, 'Whoa, are they the bad people or not?' It makes you think.
I'm a free safety. The one responsibility I have is making the play, really. So I take those chances.
I want to be the best safety in the league.
I was a bass fisherman. I liked bass. That was my thing.
Even if I just change one kid's life in my time on Earth, my life is complete. I'll be happy with that. I'll be satisfied with that.
I really don't care about stats. I don't care about any of that stuff. I just care about performing each and every weekend and helping my team win ball games.
My last name is all I have. I try to carry that to a high standard by setting high expectations.
Everyone wants to dream about playing on Sundays, but does everyone want to work to get there? And once you get there, are you thankful, or are you just happy to be there? What's your next step? What's your next plan? Me? I want to be great.
Do the right things, respect your elders, respect your teachers, continue to work hard, and if you are religious and you have some type of faith... pray.
Having a head coach pushing you is definitely a plus.
I'm just happy and blessed to have the opportunity to go to the NFL.
It is one thing to be successful on the field, but to be recognized for something off-field is a completely different and inspiring feeling.
I know what I do. I know what I put on film. I know what I try to do. I don't want to talk about what I've done.
I just want to give back and kind of be a resource for younger generations.
I take the path I want to take in life and do the things I'd like to succeed in.
It's actually a blessing to be able to walk off that field win, lose or draw. If you walk off that field healthy, that's the important thing.
School is something that I drive to finish.
Anything is possible as long as we believe in each other, always stick together.
I just have to make sure I keep improving my game in every aspect there is.
I'm a funny guy. I love to laugh. I love to have a good time. You'll never see me down or, before the game, looking mad. I'm just not that type of person.
People see police officers and think they're such bad people. We have some who can be some bad people. But we have some great ones out there, that are here to protect us.
Judges have a hard job. It's not just putting someone in jail or slapping someone on the wrist and giving them a punishment, but it's protecting society as a whole.
I want to be a Hall of Famer, go to Pro Bowls every year - just make sure my name is remembered after I leave.
My guy growing up was Deacon Jones from Eatonville, Florida, where I'm from.
Really, those 60 minutes when I am on the field is my time to enjoy myself, and I don't have to worry about anything, play the game that I love.
Coach Saban did his best job to make me a better player and a better person. I thank him for that.
Deacon Jones grew up a street over from my grandfather, where I was raised.
People have called me Ha Ha since I was in elementary school, so that's just what it's been.
Being named NFLPA Community MVP is an amazing honor.
I don't want to be a 'me' guy.
Me, coming from a low-income background, I really didn't take my studies serious as a young kid.
Growing up where I'm from, some people are afraid of cops. 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.
If I've got to come out for a few plays in order to get back right and make sure I catch my wind so I can be ready for the next play, I'll do that.
I just preach the importance of reading, the importance of learning and challenging yourself to be the best you can be in life, whatever it is you do.
You've just got to play complementary football; you've just got to wait your time.
Ever since I stepped into this league and realized I can play here and be one of the best players in the league, getting paid has never been on my mind. Because I know it's going to happen.
I think my body language and how I carry myself speaks for me as a person.
I was once that kid that needed a donation - that needed help to go to camp because my mom wasn't able to pay for it.
