-- The death of a loved one is as good of a reason as any to miss out on a three-week phase of offseason practice sessions.

That was Ha Ha Clinton-Dix's situation since graduating from the University of Alabama early last month, leaving many to speculate that the safety's absence was related to his contract.

Despite Clinton-Dix entering the last year of his rookie deal signed in 2014, there was little incentive for him to show up to the offseason program due to the lack of financial workout bonuses in his contract.

However, the passing of his Godmother, Alisa Dorsett, lingered the most.

"I had family issues," Clinton-Dix told ESPN on Tuesday. "I lost my Godmother at my graduation; guess she was excited to see me graduate. Just had a heart attack Came back here and had a foundation event, and she lost all brain activity that Wednesday. It's challenging at times but my family means everything to me. If I have an opportunity to be home with them, I'd love to be home with them."

Dorsett suffered a heart attack on May 3 while in Alabama for Clinton-Dix's graduation and passed away six days later. Any chance Clinton-Dix had to spend with his family in such troubling times, there shouldn't be any doubt that he'd pounce on that opportunity.

Even during OTAs, which are entirely voluntary. 

"I don't have a signing bonus to be here, so that definitely played a big role in me not being here, honestly, along with my Godmother not making it," Clinton-Dix said, according to Michael Cohen of PackersNews.com.

Dorsett tutored and helped mentor Clinton-Dix through high school and college, and even attended several games at Lambeau Field after the Packers drafted Clinton-Dix.

"It's kind of like, I can just stay home with my family and enjoy my family time while I have the downtime. When the season kicks off, it's just me up here. That's life, shit goes on from time to time. But I'm excited not to have that bonus in there though, honestly, because I definitely would have been here for my money."

Clinton-Dix was on the field for the start of the Packers' mandatory minicamp practices, which began Tuesday and run through Thursday. After that, their summer break will lead into training camp in late July.

The Packers opted not to draft a safety to pair with Clinton-Dix on the back-end of new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's defense, even after losing Morgan Burnett in free agency.

That likely means Clinton-Dix will be paired with Kentrell Brice, as last year's No. 61 overall pick, Josh Jones, is expected to play exclusively in the box as a hybrid linebacker where he displayed the most comfort in his rookie season.