Isaiah Crowell Gives 1st Game Check to Dallas Fallen Officers

Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell donated his first game check of the 2016 season to the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation. 

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Crowell's donation was more than $35,000 and came after months of forging a relationship with Sergeant Demetrick Pennie, the president of the foundation. 

Per Cabot, Crowell never intended for his donation to be made public, and Peddie didn't want the money, but merely an opportunity to talk one-on-one with Crowell. 

In July, Crowell posted a drawing on Instagram depicting a hooded individual slicing a police officer's throat, per CBS New York. The Browns running back quickly deleted the image. 

Crowell later issued an apology, which came just before five Dallas police officers were killed in a sniper attack, per USA Today:

"

Last week was an emotional and difficult week as we saw extreme acts of violence against black men across our country as well as against police officers in Dallas. I posted an image to Instagram in the midst of that emotion that I shouldn’t have and immediately removed it. It was an extremely poor decision and I apologize for that mistake and for offending people.

"

Crowell also said that his "values and beliefs do not match" the image he posted. 

Pennie told Cabot that he asked Crowell why he sent the check when his original plan was to build a relationship with the foundation.

"(Crowell) said, 'Sarge, I want to do it. I really want to do it.' I said, 'OK, all right, you will now be an executive-level sponsor.'"

Pennie went on to describe Crowell as being "like my son" and that he's "so proud" of the 23-year-old, adding the third-year running back flew down to met with Pennie on his own and had a three-hour discussion that helped forge their current bond.