A toast for Joe Haden

When it comes to listing the so-called shutdown cornerbacks in the National Football League, Joe Haden’s name invariably lands among the top five.

Apparently those who put together such a list haven’t been paying close attention to  the talents of the Browns cornerback. If they had, they would notice he isn’t anywhere near shutdown status.

Haden has been singed so many times last season and the first three games of this season, it’s surprising he has not been crowned with the sobriquet that hounded Elvis Patterson when he played with the New York Giants in the mid-1980s.

Giants coach Bill Parcells saw Patterson burned so many times in his four-year career in New York, he took to calling him “Toast.” That nickname became so popular, it is now pinned on those NFL cornerbacks who play similarly to Patterson.

Blow enough assignments, fail to come through with a big play on a consistent basis when needed and you risk being called “Toast.” Haden, who played a more formidable corner in his first few seasons, appears to have slipped.

His reputation as an elite cornerback, for some reason, has not taken much of a hit. But there is no question his so-called upside is on a major downslide. He longer can be trusted to shut down the opposition’s top wide receiver.

He’s only 25 years old and just approaching the peak of his career. He should be getting better. That, however, has not been the case. Far from it, in fact.

He had six interceptions in his rookie season in 2010 and everyone forecast a brilliant future. He has picked off just seven passes since then and has not been solid when attempting to shut down the opponent’s key receiver

This season, for example, leading Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown torched him with five receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown as the Steelers raced to a 24-point halftime lead in the season opener.

In the loss to Baltimore last Sunday, Haden was tasked with shutting down Steve Smith, a man 10 years younger and not nearly as quick or fast. Smith caught five passes for 101 yards, including a clutch 32-yarder over Haden in the final minute that set up the winning field goal.

Those are not the kinds of performances one expects out of a so-called shutdown cornerback, the definition of which means someone who actually shuts down the opposition.

The fact strong safety Donte Whitner has been playing more coverage safety than box safety might be construed by some as a lack of faith by the coaching staff in the cornerbacks. One can understand that lack of faith for rookie Justin Gilbert. But Haden?

Maybe the lack of a pass rush this season has led to extra pressure on the secondary, but shutdown corners are still expected to do their job no matter what happens up front. There are no excuses for elite players who fail to do their job.

The Cleveland defense, especially among the front seven, has struggled mightily in the first three games and the sloppy performance of the secondary hasn’t helped. Someone back there needs to take charge and start making plays.

The true measure of respect for an NFL cornerback is the number of times he is thrown at. Opposing quarterbacks no longer avoid Haden. Instead, they target him now that they see he's not much of a threat.

Right now, he needs to be the man because no one else is stepping up. He has to start playing like everyone believes he can or risk losing that shutdown status and start preparing to be called what Elvis Patterson was all those years ago.