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Charles Haley to 49ers rookies: 'Why don't you all act like the white guys?'

Matthew Emmons / USA TODAY Sports

Strap on your flame-retardant suits: the takes related to this story are going to be piping hot.

Hall of Famer Charles Haley was asked to speak to the San Francisco 49ers' rookie class in May and he took an interesting approach, to say the least.

"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. Why don't you act like that?' They all looked at me crazy," Haley revealed on a conference call Thursday, via the San Jose Mercury News' Cam Inman.

Giving Haley the benefit of the doubt, his overall point is a good one: players obviously shouldn't use illegal drugs or assault people. That said, he probably could have displayed a little more tact in communicating that idea.

As Inman points out, 49ers fullback Bruce Miller (who is white) was charged with misdemeanor vandalism for throwing his then-fiancee's phone in a domestic dispute only days before Haley spoke. (Miller later reached a plea deal.)

Haley's subsequent points were much less controversial. He told the young players to find positive role models whose behavior they should emulate until they develop a strong moral compass for themselves.

Haley will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame next month. Set your DVR for his speech.

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