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"So I think it's unwarranted, and I misspoke. Joe wanted to be out there. He wanted to play. But just in his assessment, did not want to put the team at risk knowing that he could not be at the percentage that in his heart he knew couldn't get to."
Those remarks prompted a backlash from some fans and media members who felt Haden should have been on the field — broken finger or not.
"Nobody questions his toughness, his leadership, how important the Browns are to him,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, what football, what being a Cleveland Brown means to him and vice versa," Pettine said.
"It's just like, man, if I'm hurt, I'm hurt. If I can't go, I can't go. Hurt is different than injured. I play hurt all the time, but if I'm injured and I feel like I'm going to hurt the team I'm not going to go out there, that's just how it is."
NOTES: DB K'Waun Williams returned to practice after sustaining his third concussion in 13 games against Tennessee on Sept. 20. Williams said he began having symptoms during a practice and immediately told Cleveland's training staff. The 5-foot-9, 183-pounder understands the risks involved, but he intends to keep playing. "I've just got to be smart," he said. ... S Donte Whitner missed practice with an unspecified "illness."
Haden said his finger has improved and he's hoping to play this week at Baltimore.
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The hurt Browns cornerback Joe Haden felt was deeper than any radiating in his body.
After choosing not to play in Sunday's loss to San Diego, Haden was targeted by critics who felt he should have been on the field despite having a broken right finger.
Haden, who also hurt his ribs against the Raiders on Sept. 27, said he tested his finger during pregame warmups before choosing not to play. Without Haden, Chargers quarterback Phillips Rivers passed for 358 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-27 win.
Because Haden was inactive after being listed as "probable" on the injury report last week, the Browns were required to provide a written explanation to the NFL, which is investigating the situation.
Haden said he should have been more open last week with Cleveland's coaches, who may not have understood the severity of his injury. But he wanted to play and pushed it as far as he could before informing the staff — "I threw them a curveball" — and his teammates that he couldn't go.
Haden said electing not to play was upsetting.
Haden numbed his finger. There was nothing to mask the sting he felt from those who harshly questioned his toughness and commitment.
Haden's comments came a few hours after Browns coach Mike Pettine accepted blame for some of the condemnation aimed at Haden,Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic, who broke the ring finger on his right hand a week earlier against Oakland.
"It's the worst feeling ever, that's why I waited until the last minute,Cheap Stitched Jerseys," Haden said. "I wanted to go. I wanted to play. I'm a guy that we need for this defense. I can see where the coaches could come from not knowing that they gotta make game-plan decisions at the time of the game.
Pettine downplayed the issue.
On Wednesday,NFL Jerseys China, he fought back.
"But where I was coming from was I want to be out there. I want to help my guys,Discount NFL Jerseys, and at the end of the day if I'm going to hurt them not being able to use both hands and only playing left-handed, it's not going to be good."
He had done everything possible to play: taking injections, trying on a cast before deciding he couldn't help his team.
A league spokesman said the matter is still under review.
"I don't know how often this happens, but we don't see this as a big deal," he said. "I doubt the league will as well."
"Joe is one of the most competitive guys on the team," linebacker Paul Kruger said. "He's been a consistently great player, somebody that wants to be out there every day. So I don't question his decision at all."
Once Pettine became aware of the "flak" Haden was getting, he reached out to "one of the faces of our franchise — and patched things up.
Haden said he spoke to several defensive teammates before the game to explain his decision. For many of the Browns, Haden didn't have to say a thing.
"I've been in Cleveland for a long time, feeling like you've got to prove yourself over and over — fight and play through injuries," he said after practice.
Following Sunday's loss,Cheap Jerseys China, and again on Monday, Pettine said it was solely Haden's decision not to play, saying "he didn't want to go." |
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