He had to wait four years, but Joe Haden finally got to watch LeBron James play basketball with the Cavaliers.
The Browns drafted Haden on April 22, 2010. He chose 23 as his jersey number as a tribute to James, whom the Cavaliers chose with the first pick of the 2003 draft.
On July 1, 2010, James used free agency to leave the Cavaliers and sign with the Miami Heat. But James resigned with the Cavaliers over the summer. He and the Cavs opened their NBA season on Oct. 30 and Haden, who purchased courtside season tickets upon James’ return, was there to watch it in a Quicken Loans Arena packed with celebrities.
‘I have my seats directly across from the Cavs bench, so me and Bron are going to be here,’ Haden said after Browns practice, making an eyes-to-eyes motion with his first and middle fingers of his right hand to say he and James would connect.
‘We’re not like buddy-buddy, but kinda. When I go to the games, I see him, I’m talking to him. In my offseason, I stay in Miami, so I saw him a couple times out there and we chilled.
‘I’m just excited to be a part of it. Just to be here in Cleveland, with just the hope of our football team just trying to turn things around and then LeBron getting back with the Cavs. How when I first got here, that’s when he left, that’s when he made the decision. Just to see how I was inside a LeBron fan deep down, and now to finally see how everybody else is embracing him and I get to just show the support. it’s a good thing for the city, for the basketball team to finally be doing well now.’
Safety Donte Whitner and quarterback Johnny Manziel also had plans to go to the game, Haden said.
Injury report
Tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion), defensive end Phil Taylor and wide receiver Rodney Smith (hamstring) did not practice on Oct. 30.
Punt return problems
Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said he might choose to have no one deep returning punts. If anyone does it would likely be sure-handed Jim Leonhard because Jordan Poyer fumbled a punt in Jacksonville and Travis Benjamin fumbled one against the Raiders last week. The Browns recovered the Benjamin bobble but not the one by Poyer.
Tabor said the fumble has shaken Benjamin’s confidence.
‘I’m not going to lie. I don’t think it helps, but we’re working through something – no question about it,’ Tabor said. ‘We’ll continue to work through it, but at the same time, ball security has to be … that’s a premium. At the end of the day, there’s no excuse for the ball being on the ground.’
The Browns are last in the league in punt return with a 2.8-yard average.
Crowell eager
Rookie running back Isaiah Crowell was on the field for only three snaps last week. He had one carry for 7 yards. Crowell fumbled twice in the Pittsburgh game Oct. 12. He lost one.
Coach Mike Pettine wanted Crowell to get more carries, but coaches are always hesitant to use fumblers in tight games. Just ask Poyer.
‘Nobody really talked to me about it, but I do expect more this week,’ Crowell said. ‘We only had 50 snaps, so I understood how the game went. I would like to have more snaps than just three. It was real disappointing, but you have to do what is best for the team. We won the game, so I was proud about that.’
The Browns rushed for 39 yards on 25 carries against the Raiders.
