Steelers’ Haden excited to get back on field
PITTSBURGH 鈥� It was the largest crowd in the history of Heinz Field, and it went down the wire in a game that can easily be called an instant classic.
Or an epic classic.
Or maybe even the greatest regular-season game ever played.
Was that the type of atmosphere Joe Haden envisioned when he signed on to play professional football some eight years ago?
鈥淵eah. Exactly,鈥� said Haden. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly what I was looking forward to, big-time games where everybody wants to know what鈥檚 going on with us, big-time playoff position. The games mean a lot in December. It鈥檚 just special to be a part of.鈥�
Get on the bandwagon, Joe, because you鈥檙e actually about to join the ranks of January football.
Of course, Haden has played football in January. He finished three of his seven losing seasons with the Browns on either the first or second of January. And he finished three college seasons in January, too. He even went so late as Jan. 8 to win the national title with Florida.
But he鈥檚 on track for his first NFL playoff appearance, if he remains healthy.
That was in Haden鈥檚 mind as he practiced Wednesday with the Steelers鈥� first-team defense. The left cornerback had missed the last five games with a fractured fibula.
He practiced last week and 鈥渨as close,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut I couldn鈥檛 make it happen. I was trying to practice and it just wasn鈥檛 ready to go.鈥�
So Haden sat out the thriller against the New England Patriots in an atmosphere reminiscent of an AFC Championship Game. He doesn鈥檛 expect to miss another one.
鈥淚鈥檓 about 85 percent, but I鈥檓 a lot better than I was last week,鈥� he said.
Haden鈥檚 only worry now is getting into football shape. He鈥檚 done his best to maintain his conditioning by running on an underwater treadmill, and 鈥渁 lot of stuff on the bike.鈥� He also did some heavy cardio work early this week before taking the practice field for his first full practice since the week of the Nov. 12 game at Indianapolis.
Rumors have drifted out of Cleveland that the Browns released Haden late last August because he had become a slow healer. Haden, who鈥檚 been nothing but classy in comments about his former team, shook his head.
鈥淵ou know,鈥� he said in a calm and steady voice, 鈥渨hen they get you out of there, they gotta try to make a reason for something to not look as bad as it was. But I really don鈥檛 think so. I was a hundred percent, ready to go, at the beginning of the season for playing here. I was ready to go.鈥�
And missing five games with an injury that鈥檚 said to take an athlete 4 to 6 weeks from which to recover, Haden appears to be a sure and steady healer. Perhaps being part of a team that鈥檚 actually playing big games sparked his recovery a bit.
鈥淢an, I love our chances,鈥� he said. 鈥淩eally, really excited just to have an opportunity, going into every game with this offense and our defense. Our talent level is up there with everybody. I don鈥檛 feel like anybody can out-talent us. I like our chances versus anyone.
鈥淛ust playing with these dudes, man, being on this team, it just gives me a whole different understanding and perspective of playing ball and what it鈥檚 really about. This is my first time in the playoffs so I鈥檓 just super, super excited about it, knowing that a lot of teams are just about packing up ready to go home, and we still got a lot of ball left.鈥�
But what about the poor Browns?
What if the 0-14 Browns come to Pittsburgh in two weeks needing a win to avoid becoming the second team in NFL history to finish 0-16?
鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to have to not get no wins then,鈥� Haden said. 鈥淚 hope they can get it this week.鈥�
NOTES: Marcus Gilbert also returned to practice after fulfilling his four-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. He confirmed that he was reinserted at first team right tackle. 鈥� Eight Steelers were named to the Pro Bowl, but not Cam Heyward, the first Steelers defensive lineman in 31 years with 10 sacks. 鈥淥bviously mad about it,鈥� Heyward said. 鈥淏ut I can鈥檛 control it. Leave it there and focus on football.鈥� 鈥� Le鈥橵eon Bell admitted the hit he took two weeks ago from safety Tony Jefferson bothered him a bit. And now? 鈥淚 feel fresh right now,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel good. I got hit in my knee two weeks ago in the Ravens game. I came back in the Patriots game, played through a little pain, but now today I feel great. My body鈥檚 been healing and recovering well.鈥�