http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...ers-rookies-in-may-to-act-like-the-white-guys
Charles Haley is the only player in NFL history who's been a part of five Super Bowl winning teams, so it was no surprise in May when one of those teams, the 49ers, asked him to speak to their rookies.
What might come as a surprise to some people though is what Haley said to those 49ers rookies.
"As far as the rookies, and I know they probably got mad, but I said, 'Why don't you all act like the white guys? You never see them in the paper getting high or hitting people," Haley said, via the San Jose Mercury News. "'Why don't you act like that?' They all looked at me crazy."
The 51-year-old Haley wasn't necessarily trying to be controversial with his comments, he was just trying to get the attention of a bunch rookies -- Something that's much easier said then done in this age of cell phones, Twitter and Instagram.
"I just did it for the shock value of it," Haley said. "The hardest thing is these guys, they have an attention span of a 5-year-old. I'm not the most gentle and kind person to sit there and deal with that crap. I'm a little more confrontational. I think I got my point across."
Saying something controversial is definitely one way to get your point across, although I have to think that flashing all five Super Bowl rings might have done the trick for Haley, too.
Haley's main point during the speech was that younger players should find someone to look up to.
"You've got to have people that stand for something, until you're able to lead yourself," Haley said.
The five-time Pro Bowler, who spent eight of his 13 seasons with the 49ers, is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
Charles Haley is the only player in NFL history who's been a part of five Super Bowl winning teams, so it was no surprise in May when one of those teams, the 49ers, asked him to speak to their rookies.
What might come as a surprise to some people though is what Haley said to those 49ers rookies.
"As far as the rookies, and I know they probably got mad, but I said, 'Why don't you all act like the white guys? You never see them in the paper getting high or hitting people," Haley said, via the San Jose Mercury News. "'Why don't you act like that?' They all looked at me crazy."
The 51-year-old Haley wasn't necessarily trying to be controversial with his comments, he was just trying to get the attention of a bunch rookies -- Something that's much easier said then done in this age of cell phones, Twitter and Instagram.
"I just did it for the shock value of it," Haley said. "The hardest thing is these guys, they have an attention span of a 5-year-old. I'm not the most gentle and kind person to sit there and deal with that crap. I'm a little more confrontational. I think I got my point across."
Saying something controversial is definitely one way to get your point across, although I have to think that flashing all five Super Bowl rings might have done the trick for Haley, too.
Haley's main point during the speech was that younger players should find someone to look up to.
"You've got to have people that stand for something, until you're able to lead yourself," Haley said.
The five-time Pro Bowler, who spent eight of his 13 seasons with the 49ers, is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
