Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) and wide receiver Greg Little (18) share a laugh against the Detroit Lions during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
One of the biggest player vs. player matchups to watch in Week 4 is Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden against superstar wide receiver A.J. Green of the Cincinnati Bengals. Both players are two of the best at their respective positions, and they are elite players in every sense of the word. Watching Haden trying to cover Green will be a real treat, and we’ll see if the Browns star coverage corner can contain a nearly uncoverable wideout.
Joe Haden praised the elite talent he will be going up against tomorrow, via the Browns official site, “He’s just an all-around, overall, really good receiver. He can do everything that you want a receiver to be able to do: go up and get the ball, and with him and (Andy) Dalton coming in together, they have a really good chemistry and he trusts him. If you’ve got your quarterback to trust you, he’ll throw up a jump ball to him. If there’s ever a situation he really needs, you know he’s going to go to 18. He’s tall, fast, runs really good routes, can go up and get the ball. He’s just one of the best. I think he’s one of the best receivers I’ve ever played against since I’ve been in the league.”
A.J. Green essentially hoards the targets in Cincinnati, and Andy Dalton won’t be afraid to chuck it in Green’s general direction, unless if Haden’s coverage is just that tight. That could all play into Haden’s advantage, though, as he could potentially sneak in a pick, defend some passes, and force some incompletions if Dalton looks for Green too much. The former Georgia Bulldogs star caught 97 passes last season, and he already has 19 receptions for 249 yards and three touchdowns this year.
Haden says that facing another elite player like A.J. Green is all about respect, and that was the main thing to take away from Haden’s quotes on the marquee matchup. “With certain players, it’s not even talk. It’s a respect. You’ve got to get yours. You’re going to be hyped. It’s going to be in-your-face. If he catches a ball, he’s going to do the first-down thing, but it’s all respect. It’s just two at the top of their games just trying to go get the best of the other one. It’s no disrespect. After the game, we’ll hug it up, but during the game, I’m pushing him down, trying to throw him on the ground. He’s trying to pull me by. You’re going to get into it, for sure.”
At this point in time, A.J. Green vs. Joe Haden is one of the NFL’s best player rivalries, and watching both stars battle it out tomorrow will create some great discussion on Monday.
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