So it was really no surprise when the five-time Pro-Bowler, who played eight years in San Francisco, was asked to speak to the 49ers rookies back in May.
But what might be a little shocking to some people though is what Haley said to those NFL newbies.
"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 group of rookies — Something that's much easier said then done in this world 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."
Lost in all of Haley's reasoning was the fact that 49ers fullback Bruce Miller, who is white, was arrested two months earlier following an incident with his fiancee and ultimately pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace.
Still, Haley maintained that his main point was that young players need to find the right role models to follow early in their careers. He cited Ronnie Lott, Michael Carter and Joe Montana as some of the players that provided that direction for him early in his career.
"You've got to have people that stand for something, until you're able to lead yourself," said Haley.
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