Browns’ Haden is making a name for himself

Associated Press

BEREA

Bored and killing time during the NFL lockout, Browns cornerback Joe Haden was wandering around a local shopping mall when he decided to see if some friends wanted to meet for lunch.

So, he logged into his Twitter account and Haden told his followers — any of the 50,000 who could make it — to meet him at a sushi restaurant.

“We took over the whole place,” Haden said Monday.

And, he picked up the tab.

“Pretty hefty,” Haden said without divulging the bill. “I just wanted to give back to the fans.”

Not bad for a guy who prefers taking things away.

Haden, who intercepted a team-high six passes as a rookie for Cleveland last year, has much bigger plans for his second NFL season. The former first-round pick whose Florida teammates nicknamed “Rock Star” because of his flamboyance and outgoing personality, has his sights on becoming one of the league’s elite cornerbacks — maybe even the best one.

“I just want to lock down one side of the field,” he said while cooling down under a tent following another hazy-and-humid practice. “That’s what I came into the league trying to do. My goal is just to be one of the best corners in the league.”

He’s well on his way, and as Haden works to improve, he’s building a loyal legion of Browns fans, who have quickly embraced him as one of their favorites.

Haden has become a man of the people.

“Who, Mr. Cleveland?” Browns tight end Evan Moore joked when asked about Haden. “Whenever I opened any Cleveland website this winter, he was on the front of it.”

Sure enough, Haden seemed to be all over town during the offseason. An avid basketball fan, Haden, who set high school passing records as a quarterback and played guard on a state title-winning hoop team in Maryland, attended several Cavaliers games this winter. But Haden didn’t just go to the NBA games, he went dressed in the Cavaliers’ wine-and-gold uniform.

For one game, he dressed like Cavs guard Baron Davis, rounding out his look with Davis’ trademark headband and high socks. For another game, he mimicked Cavs forward Anderson Varejao, even wearing a wig to replicate the Brazilian player’s frizzy locks. This spring, Haden went to an Indians game dressed like relief pitcher Tony Sipp and sat in the bleachers, where he posed for photos with fans.

It’s Haden’s way of showing his gratitude. He loves Cleveland, and Cleveland loves him back.

“They just love how I’m showing love for the city,” Haden said of the fan reaction. “I could be in the house, just hanging out with my friends, but just going out there and showing them that I really appreciated them.”

It’s nothing new for Haden.

“Nobody tells him to do any of it,” said Sean Cabble, who met Haden at Florida. “Joe does it all on his own. He just loves people. He’d rather be around 10,000 people than be by himself.”