Steelers’ Haden excited to get back on field
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� 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?
无毛视频淵eah. Exactly,无毛视频� said Haden. 无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 exactly what I was looking forward to, big-time games where everybody wants to know what无毛视频檚 going on with us, big-time playoff position. The games mean a lot in December. It无毛视频檚 just special to be a part of.无毛视频�
Get on the bandwagon, Joe, because you无毛视频檙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无毛视频檚 on track for his first NFL playoff appearance, if he remains healthy.
That was in Haden无毛视频檚 mind as he practiced Wednesday with the Steelers无毛视频� first-team defense. The left cornerback had missed the last five games with a fractured fibula.
He practiced last week and 无毛视频渨as close,无毛视频� he said.
无毛视频淏ut I couldn无毛视频檛 make it happen. I was trying to practice and it just wasn无毛视频檛 ready to go.无毛视频�
So Haden sat out the thriller against the New England Patriots in an atmosphere reminiscent of an AFC Championship Game. He doesn无毛视频檛 expect to miss another one.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 about 85 percent, but I无毛视频檓 a lot better than I was last week,无毛视频� he said.
Haden无毛视频檚 only worry now is getting into football shape. He无毛视频檚 done his best to maintain his conditioning by running on an underwater treadmill, and 无毛视频渁 lot of stuff on the bike.无毛视频� 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无毛视频檚 been nothing but classy in comments about his former team, shook his head.
无毛视频淵ou know,无毛视频� he said in a calm and steady voice, 无毛视频渨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无毛视频檛 think so. I was a hundred percent, ready to go, at the beginning of the season for playing here. I was ready to go.无毛视频�
And missing five games with an injury that无毛视频檚 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无毛视频檚 actually playing big games sparked his recovery a bit.
无毛视频淢an, I love our chances,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淩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无毛视频檛 feel like anybody can out-talent us. I like our chances versus anyone.
无毛视频淛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无毛视频檚 really about. This is my first time in the playoffs so I无毛视频檓 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.无毛视频�
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?
无毛视频淭hey无毛视频檙e going to have to not get no wins then,无毛视频� Haden said. 无毛视频淚 hope they can get it this week.无毛视频�
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. 无毛视频� Eight Steelers were named to the Pro Bowl, but not Cam Heyward, the first Steelers defensive lineman in 31 years with 10 sacks. 无毛视频淥bviously mad about it,无毛视频� Heyward said. 无毛视频淏ut I can无毛视频檛 control it. Leave it there and focus on football.无毛视频� 无毛视频� Le无毛视频橵eon Bell admitted the hit he took two weeks ago from safety Tony Jefferson bothered him a bit. And now? 无毛视频淚 feel fresh right now,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚 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无毛视频檚 been healing and recovering well.无毛视频�