Report: Browns HC Hue Jackson Was “Irate” With Front Office’s Decision To Cut Joe Haden

According to Jason La Canfora, Browns HC Hue Jackson was “irate” by the front office’s decision to release veteran CB Joe Haden a few weeks ago. La Canfora adds that the move “renewed long-simmering tensions” between Jackson and the front office and was met with “near unanimous disapproval” by the locker room and coaching staff.

Haden was reportedly having a “tremendous offseason” and was healthy than he had been the past few years. To make matters worse, the move resulted in Haden signing with the division rival Steelers.

Sources have told La Canfora that Jackson wasn’t aware that the front office had been shopping Haden around in potential trade deals and the coaching staff viewed him as an invaluable piece of their defense.

One issue for Jackson, according to La Canfora, was the simple fact that it had no tangible football merit and the Browns didn’t receive any compensation for losing their best cornerback. Overall, the move was viewed as a salary dump.

La Canfora mentions that this isn’t the first time the Browns office has created some issues with the coaching staff, as their decision to trade LB Demario Davis to the Jets for Calvin Pryor, who was unpopular with teammates and recently released after he got into a fight with one of his fellow players, was another unpopular move.

La Canfora sums the concerns up by writing: “The constant struggle between coaching and the front office has taken a toll on Jackson, following a one-win season, and recent events have intensified the rifts, with the coach’s hands tied in personnel matters.”

We’ll have more regarding the reported issues between Jackson and the front office as the news is available.