Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur ousts CB Joe Haden for roughing up Travis Benjamin – NFL News
The relationship between Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden and coach Pat Shurmur took an unexpected sore twist after the coach admittedly used bad language and kicked the player off the field after he allegedly roughed up rookie wide receiver Travis
Benjamin during a team drill on Wednesday.
Soon after the incident, Joe took off his helmet and rushed to the locker room straightaway. Shurmur later clarified the situation and insisted he had talked to the player and cleared the air. All was fine, he claimed.
Earlier, the coach angrily dejected reports about the development, leaving the situation to a possible update by the player himself on a social networking. It never happened.
Shurmur said:
"I'm not going to talk about it. That's between me and the player. I have a great deal of respect for Joe. If you want details, you're going to have to find it on Twitter. My only apology is that I used bad language and the fans were here to see it. Joe's
a great competitor."
As reflective in the quotes, the coach used bad language against Joe but insisted it was due to his concerns for the player’s safety, which is a priority for him.
“Safety, everything I do I think about these players and this team. I told them that. All my thoughts revolve around our players and our team. I think it's very important that we practice fast and we're smart."
The coach went on to say that the cornerback was too physical against the Benjamin and that the aggressive nature of tackling could have resulted in an injury to the rookie receiver.
Joe, on the other hand, did not say anything at all since reports of the situation first appeared. The team apparently refused journalists permission to approach the player directly.
He was later seen at the back of the field while his teammates practised in front of local fans who had earlier witnessed the development of rough environment on the field and use of bad language by Shurmur against Joe. The session was open to public.
It is pertinent to note that the team’s president Mike Holmgren also witnessed the entire spectacle but remained tight-lipped over it. There were also no comments from Benjamin.
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