Browns ink CB Haden to big contract thru 2019

By Adam Silverstein
May 13, 2014

The Cleveland Browns and former Florida Gators cornerback Joe Haden came to terms Tuesday on a five-year, $68 million contract extension that includes $45 million in guaranteed money, one of the richest deals in the league for a player at his position.

ProFootballTalk.com first reported Haden’s signing, while ESPN’s Adam Schefter released the terms of the extension. The former notes that the $14 million signing bonus, $22 million fully guaranteed at signing and $23 million guaranteed for injury “all surpass the deal that Richard Sherman just signed with Seattle.”

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Haden has spent his entire career with Cleveland. He will also earn $8.9 million in the final year of his rookie contract in 2014.

Haden played in 57 games over his first four seasons, missing four games in 2012 after being suspended for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances after testing positive for Adderall in the offseason.

Haden has racked up 13 interceptions, three forced fumbles and 67 pass defenses in his career, scoring his first career interception return touchdown last season.

He also was named to his first Pro Bowl last year.

Haden has adopted the city as his own and become a fan favorite. He is often seen at Cleveland Cavaliers basketball games and other sporting events supporting a variety of local teams, charitable efforts and youth activities.

At just 25 years old and the star of the Browns’ defense, he could certainly play out his extension in Cleveland. The Browns even picked CB Justin Gilbert with the No. 8 overall selection of the 2014 NFL Draft to take some pressure off Haden in the secondary.

5 Comments

  1. 1974Gator says:

    I wanna be a Gator CB!

  2. Gatoralum88 says:

    Current/future Gator cornerbacks take note:

    Haden…hard worker…high character…stays out of trouble = a first-round pick who’s given a 68-million/45-mill guaranteed contract extension.

    Purifoy…pothead…DOESN’T stay out of trouble…likes to elude police = undrafted!

    Get the picture?

    • gatorboi352 says:

      What’s that about staying out of trouble?

      “Joe Haden has failed a drug test by having Adderall in his system, according to Tony Grossi, and now faces a possible suspension by the league. Adderall, an ADHD medication, is on the banned substances list as a stimulant. Tyler Sash of the Giants was recently suspended for four games for having the same drug in his system.”

      I would link the article that quote is from but I don’t believe Adam allows external links.

      • Gatoralum88 says:

        Yeah, Adderall being on the “banned” substance list has been controversial for a while. Haden says he tried Adderall as “a one-time pick-me-up” while on an off-season visit to Vegas &, because of the league’s random testing policy, ended up being tested a few days later in Cleveland while it was still in his system. While he knew it’s banned, players never really know when they’re going to be asked to test. Sure, it was ABSOLUTELY stupid of him to take it but I guess if there’s ever a time you may need Adderall to help you focus it’s when you’re gambling in Vegas. He’s currently the best player Cleveland has so having to sit through a 4-game suspension to start 2012 (which they went 0-4 through) was certainly costly to the Browns. They went 5-7 with him in the lineup that year.

        Believe it or not, Adderrall is LEGAL in MLB (the MOST anal retentive sport when it comes to drug use so what does that tell you!) with a prescription. If Haden had a prescription, he could have possibly avoided his suspension although the NFL has been inconsistent with imposing suspensions on players who test positive for Adderall while taking it with a prescription.

        A bigger question is whether OFFSEASON use of Adderall (or any other stimulant) should even be prohibited. It can’t enhance performance if there’s no performance to enhance and it’s not a substance that helps a player artificially build muscle mass in anticipation of future performance. I’ve never taken Adderall so I have no idea what it does. I do have a co-worker who is prescribed it & says it helps him immensely with his focus. The guy is a data processing machine!

        I believe Haden when he says he took it while gambling in Vegas & that he’s not a habitual “sneak” user who’s trying to beat the system. Anyway, it’s way past my bedtime & I need sleep to focus at work. Have a good night gatorboi! Go Gators!!!

  3. Sam Andreu says:

    Glad to see this Gator do it bigger than that dick Sherman:)

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