Free Republic

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- He has so many reasons to finish. For his mother, who sacrificed so much for him. For his college coach, who kept pushing him to do so, even after his departure for the NFL. And for the kids in his hometown of Eatonville, Florida, who dream of being him one day. But then Ha Ha Clinton-Dix turns on his TV. And there he sees reminder after reminder of the most important reason he continues to pursue his degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama. Ferguson. Baltimore. Dallas. Milwaukee. Tulsa. Charlotte. The cities change. The...

Green Bay — The Green Bay Packers were one player away from disaster Thursday night in the first round of the National Football League draft. Prospect after prospect the Packers held in high regard and held out hopes might be available at their No. 21 position had to be removed from their draft board. Finally, it came down to the slot just ahead of Green Bay. What would have been the reaction among the Packers' decision-makers if the New Orleans Saints would have selected safety Ha'Sean "Ha Ha" Clinton-Dix of Alabama with pick No. 20. "I would have been crushed,"...