Haden was the Browns first round draft pick in 2010 and in my opinion was the "new" Browns best first round selection not named Joe Thomas in making two Pro Bowl appearances and earning a new contract after the 2014 season.
Ironically,as happens so often in pro sports,but especially the NFL,it was that contract that likely sped Haden's retreat from Cleveland as his performance after that contract declined rapidly with concussion problems prominent in his dropoff in play.
Haden's five year extension still has two years to go and during the extension was exactly when his injury issues began,which quickly meant that even with a team with the large cap space of the Browns,Haden's cash became a weight around the team's neck at eleven million dollars a year.
Haden was not a true "shut down" cornerback even at his peak-Antonio Brown and A.J.Green generally had huge games against him,true shutdown corners have a much easier time,even against elite receivers.
I don't have an issue with moving Joe Haden.but I do have one question.
If this was all about saving cap space and declining performance (both reasonable thoughts),why didn't the Browns save even more space by releasing Haden in the off-season?
They could have chopped even more space then.
Now,I return to Gregg Williams' introductory press conference where he mentioned Joe Haden by name as a player of note and it's not out of the question that the team might have already decided that unless Haden showed signs of a return to form,that he might be on his way out.
After all,the Browns are going to pay him anyway (Minus the likely minimum that a team signing Haden would pick up),so I don't have a problem taking a look (as long as the decision wasn't already decided,which would have made little sense).
The Browns will likely start Jason McCourty in Haden's position,although Briean Boddy-Calhoun will see his share of time increase as well.
Either McCourty will be a stopgap for a year or two or the younger Boddy-Calhoun could step up and be a building block for this rebuilding process.
In both possible cases,the Browns should have similar or improved production at a far cheaper price.
As for Haden's future.I've heard three particular names-New Orleans,Kansas City and Pittsburgh.
All three teams have secondary issues,so if Haden has anything left,any of those teams could use the help.
The question is what does he have left?
If a team such as the Browns with cap room to burn (and would pay him either way) didn't think he could help them,why would a playoff team (Steelers and Chiefs) or one with postseason hopes (Saints) rely on him to do so?
The answer might be that the Browns have botched so many talent evaluations through the years that just because the Browns say Haden can't play,doesn't mean that he can't.
I'll miss Joe Haden.
It's a cliche',but Haden understood the Cleveland fans and got elbow deep in the community and seemed like a very nice person.
However,the business is winning football game and not employing people because they are good people.
Joe Haden was a player in decline that had problems staying healthy and the Haden that signed that extension never showed up on the field for the Browns (Maybe it was the crappy uniform curse?),so it's understandable that the Browns wanted to see what they had from their young players rather than potentially struggling through another injury-plagued campaign.
I'll be working on the blog from the road office tonight as I hope to finish the post I was working on when Joe Haden's release news broke,I'll be working on the Ohio State preview since their season starts tomorrow and with that comes with the first PPM of the season and this year's face of the PPM's debut as well.
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