The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Joe Haden hosts free skills camp
As an NFL defensive back, Joe Haden knows full well the importance of having his head on a swivel.
On a sunny morning in Hunting Valley on July 21, that skill set might never have been so important.
“Joe, what’s it like to play in the NFL?”
“Who’s your favorite player, Joe?”
“Joe, will you sign my shirt?”
The eighth-year cornerback from the Browns turned his head, smiled and answered the questions posed to him by the 200some youngsters who participated in the Joe Haden Skills Academy at University School’s football facility.
It was a hot day, muggy and sticky.
There are only a handful of days before Haden and his Browns teammates report for training camp on July 27 in Berea.
Haden could probably being doing plenty of other things on this given day.
But this is an opportunity he wouldn’t miss.
“I always wished when I was in Maryland someone in the area or someone from the Redskins or Ravens would throw a camp and give me an opportunity to be around an NFL player,” Haden said. “Being in the league (now) and knowing that when I was younger and having someone come back and do this for me and how I would have loved it, I’m just trying to do the same.”
The Haden Skills Academy cost participants nothing. The camp was made possible through Haden, his family members and the Haden Sports & Performance facility in District Heights, Maryland.
Each camper received an Air Jordan T-shirt, an Air Jordan duffel bag and was treated to a cookout at noon.
Among those helping out with the camp were Haden’s parents, Joe and Zakiya, brothers Josh and Jordan Haden, and a handful of representatives from the Haden Sports & Performance business.
Also in attendance were Haden’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and Haden’s college roommate at Florida, Sean Cabble.
Also helping out with the camp was University’s standout quarterback, Jayden Cunningham.
“Life is short,” Haden said. “Being able to enjoy the fruits of our labor with family, being able to spread love to other kids and people you love (is important). In the offseason, I don’t get to spend as much time around family as I’d like to. So it’s nice to be with family and doing something positive.”
There were multiple drill sites set up around the field, including 40-yard dashes, cone drills, footwork drills and a jumping station.
“Jump like Joe Haden. You can do it,” said one instructor, prompting one camper to leap high into the air.
“That’s the highest I’ve ever jumped,” beamed the young boy, walking back to the end of the line.
Holding a stopwatch in his hand, Haden grinned as he encouraged a young boy to push through the 40yard dash.
“C’mon, you got this. Push it, push it, push it,” Haden yelled as the boy ran through the line.
The cookout was a big hit, too, with burgers and treats served at the pavilion that overlooks Scovil Field.
It was a day none of the campers would ever forget, nor one Haden would forget.
He didn’t have the opportunity to “hang out” with an NFL star when he was a boy in Maryland, but now that he is that NFL star, he is more than willing to give other youngsters an opportunity he went without.
“Back in the day, I was a fan of players like Deion (Sanders), Champ Bailey, Ray Lewis with the Ravens,” he said. “I’m just trying to make a connection, doing it with my brothers, my dad, some of my friends from back in the day. We’re just out here showing that we’re normal people out here doing the same thing they like to do — have fun.”