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Guilt from last year?

Browns cornerback Joe Haden pledges to not miss any regular games after March ankle surgery
4:23 PM ET
Tony Grossi
ESPN Cleveland
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Takeways from the Browns’ OTA practice on Wednesday …

1. Cornerback Joe Haden’s comeback from ankle surgery has reached a mini-milestone and he’s confident he won’t miss any regular-season games. Haden had the walking boot removed from his left foot on Tuesday. He is bearing weight on the ankle and said he is “grinding” five days a week with the training staff. The surgery was March 16 to repair damage when, in offseason training, he aggravated an injury originally suffered in the Nov. 1 home game against Arizona. Haden said he has no timetable to return other than to “not miss any regular season time … I don’t really know about training camp. I just know my thing is to not miss any games.”

2. Despite suffering his worst season in the NFL, Haden was upbeat because of the changes in the coaching staff. New coach Hue Jackson brought back to the Browns two coaches instrumental in Haden’s first Pro Bowl season of 2013 – coordinator Ray Horton and defensive backs coach Lou Cioffi. “I’m super excited about that,” Haden said. “The atmosphere, the way Coach Hue makes us feel. It’s something I never felt since I’ve been in Cleveland. I think Coach Hue is the best thing that’s happened since I’ve been here. Everything’s going in the right direction.”

3. Another thing lifting the spirits of Haden is the positive buzz generated by the Cavaliers in the midst of another run to the NBA Finals. Haden said he also was inspired by the ESPN “30 For 30” film “Believeland,” which depicted Cleveland’s passion for sports throughout repeated team heartbreaks. “Seeing how the fans are, how much they love and support the team, they just want a winner, even though we keep taking these Ls [losses],” Haden said. “I feel with the coach we have now, the team we have now, it’s an opportunity to change that, to make tjis thing special. If we can make the football team win … I talk to Tristan [Thompson, Cavs center]. He knows we have a chance to make this thing special. If the Browns won like the Cavs, it would be a whole different vibe. Not to knock it all, it just is what it is. Just knowing how much love they show the Cavs and how much the fans are still supporting the Browns, even though we haven’t given them anything to be proud of, it just shows if we can flip it around, it’ll be special.”

4. Jackson preached patience to pesky media repeating questions about the quarterback situation. He scoffed at a question about whether Robert Griffin III had issues with throwing accuracy. “RG3 doesn’t have any accuracy issues,” Jackson said. And in response to a question about veteran Josh McCown, Jackson went off on a tangent. “Sometimes I feel everybody wants us to cut the team and make decisions on the 53 [right now],” Jackson said. “We don’t play a game for a long time. I get to evaluate these guys in the toughest conditions and all kinds of situations and find out what they can do and can’t do, what I know I can trust and what they know they can trust. We’ll get there. It’s way too soon to be worried about some of the things you all are concerned about . We’ve had two OTA practices. There’s still seven more to go. Then you can ask me these questions.”

5. Rookies Corey Coleman, Cody Kessler and Ricardo Louis were excused to attend the NFLPA Rookie Premier event in Los Angeles. “But they had a good day under their belt before they left,” Jackson said … Rookie linebacker Joe Schobert blocked a Griffin pass near the line of scrimmage and hauled it in for an interception … Jackson said Terrelle Pryor’s conversion to receiver – in his first full offseason after switching from quarterback – is going well. “He’s taken coaching from the best there is, Al Saunders,” Jackson said. “He kind of knows the system, knows what to expect, what to do. The biggest thing he’s done is he’s settled down and understands this is what I really want to do, and I want to be good at it. I’m athletic enough to do it. And I want to be great. He’s working and we’ve all seen it and he’s getting better every day.” … Joe Thomas is still getting veteran day’s off. He watched OTAs on Wednesday. In his place, Dan France lined up at left tackle and Alvin Bailey was at right tackle.

http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland/post/_...h-ankle-surgery

prove it joe. you have a lot to prove to our fans. his "love for the city" quotes have fallen on my deaf ears. just play like you should.

This isn't a smart pledge.

Injuries happen. Hell, he probably shouldn't had played last year anyway after that concussion.

It's not like he got injured riding a motorcycle.

It's a nice sentiment, hopefully people won't take it 100% literal and understand that you can't control most injuries.

I hope he has a great season.

Jinxing himself. Never bet against not getting injured. Something you can't control.

*edit* just saw his presser. dont remember him making a "pledge." thought he just said he expected to not miss any regular season games.

The very Cleveland thing to do is exactly what you hope won't be done.

Also, Grossi's characterization that Jackson "went off on a tangent" is soooo Cleveland. Media does insinuate that any number of decisions should have been made by yesterday even though pads don't go on for weeks.

I agree man....Joe has nothing to prove. He was been a solid member since he was drafted. There are always goofballs who think shutdown corners allow zero receptions all year long.

Gator or not, I am damn glad Joe Haden is a member of my team!!

Hmmm... never bet against not...


Triple negative, so I think you are okay

I appreciate where his heart is, but you never know with injuries. One awkward fall or some guy having their foot underneath yours and you're done.

I think everyone is taking his "pledge" out of context.... I'm pretty certain that he's just talking in reference to coming back from the current injury/surgery.

Haden said he has no timetable to return other than to “not miss any regular season time … I don’t really know about training camp. I just know my thing is to not miss any games.”

I think it's obvious he's talking about being healed before the season starts and thus, he'll be ready for the opening game.

Hardly is he predicting he'll go through the 16 game season without missing any games. I don't see how anyone can read that into it.

Thanks Miss Deputy Dawg for your grammar fix.

Oh, Tony Grossi....

j/c:

I don't care about the pledge or jinx or any of that stuff. I just know that Haden needs to perform better on the football field. The secondary might be the worst in the entire NFL and the Browns desperately need Haden to play like he did in 2013.

As always Berea just want's to stir the pot. He posts this then sits back and watches people disagree about Joe. He gets some strange form of satisfaction with it.

Whoever started this thread makes it seem like Haden is claiming not to miss any games all year because of injury; but when I read the story it is just Haden saying he will be rehabbed from his current injury by the time the season starts.
That is not him in any way making a pledge to not get injured.

Josh Gordon said he was gonna pass drug tests too. Johnny M said he was going to get himself together.
Let your play speak for itself..

Playing every game is one thing, playing well to even just "okay" is another.

I'm on bad terms with Haden. The JF crap, the season he had last year and the constant and consistent poor and slow starts to the season and etc - he's going to have to ball out again to get me willing to wear the dumb $120 dollar jersey I bought that happens to have #23 with the name Haden on it =(

Well, the alternatives are to say nothing which I'm pretty sure the local media wouldn't let him get away with.

Or he could be negative. Would anyone like that better? maybe some will.

Or he could do what he did and say he intends to not miss any games. When you think about it, what player wants to miss games?

Sometimes I think we make too much of remarks like these at this time of year, regardless of the nature.

We as Browns fans have had our share of broken promises,from players on up through the staff. Remarks like that should not be made in a city where trust/belief is difficult to extend.

Another Article

That's the problem right there, believing promises are always kept while ignoring the fact that people say stupid $#!% all the time.

And you post another article from Chris Porky (misspelled on purpose) thanks for proving my point. A guy who knows nothing and spends his time tooting his own horn while working jobs that have nothing at all to do with football.

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Chris/Pokorny

Many are with you there. If the ankle surgery does not alter his hip rotation and kinetic chain during live action, then it may not be that bad. But other concerns raised last year with him cashing in on the contract then bailing out linger. Important year for him to see which way his career goes.

You might remember, he was a member of this board for a while. At that time he was recruiting folks to write for a Browns site he wanted to start up.

lets go Joe

Can't pledge what you can't control. I'd rather see him pledge that he'll never hang out with JM or Gordon again.

Oh I remember him.

Well that makes three of us.

Haden off the PUP list.

http://www.ohio.com/blogs/cleveland-brow...actice-1.703167

That's good news.

Good news

He was running and etc at practice, I anticipated him returning quickly.

We need Joe to get himself an int in the first game. It seems like he's the type of player that needs a big play to get him into his zone. His starts are always slow.

We need Joe big time. Crucial element of the defense bc Williams is not a #1 CB anymore.

I think it now becomes interesting as to who is opposite joe?

Hopefully someone shines during preseason

I didn't think Haden would be off til September. Good news

All I want out of preseason is healthy players, good evaluations, and keeping best players who produce during the regular season....wins in preseason mean nada....GO Browns!!!