CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Like most newcomers to a city, Joe has spent the past few months trying to learn the details of his new home. He's explored the streets, eaten at loads of restaurants, been to plenty of sporting events, and made oodles of new friends. Some of those pals, he's even invited to share lunch with him at his favorite joint down the street. His treat. 
Normally, all of this would be unspectacular.
But the fact that he's Joe Haden, the second-year Browns cornerback, makes it notable. Not many professional athletes inject themselves into their community promptly upon arriving to play for a new team. Fewer do it in a town where they have no ties. But the gregarious 22-year-old Haden now rivals teammate Josh Cribbs, a Kent State product, for the title of Mr. Cleveland in his first off-season, with a schedule that has included:
• Attending Cavaliers games dressed as Anderson Varejao (with a springy-haired wig) and Baron Davis (with a painted-on beard);
• Making celebrity appearances at the Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon and Lee Evans Celebrity Flag Football Game;
• Buying lunch for several dozen of his closest Twitter friends at Sushi Rock;
• Shooting hoops with fans at Cedar Point;
• Attending several Indians games, one in which he dressed as reliever Tony Sipp;
• Agreeing to every autograph request and generally becoming the most visible athlete in town.
If it seems like Haden is everywhere, it's probably because he is.
• Cleveland fans' photos with Joe Haden.
"You'd think all kinds of marketing guys were behind it, but it's just Joe being Joe," said Joe Haden Jr., the football player's father. "He's a good kid and he likes to have fun. He's done a better job than any marketing firm could."
None of the fan interaction and high visibility has been calculated, Haden swears. He just doesn't like being alone, never has. He likes to have fun, always has. Haden is the oldest of five boys in his family, the talkative clan leader whose wide, toothy smile draws people to him like kittens to a saucer of milk.
When he attended Florida, where he first began to play defensive back after a high school career as quarterback, he was the first on the dance floor at clubs, the first to make friends with a simple trip to the grocery store.
Said Sean Cabble, his college buddy and business manager: "If he's awake, he's doing something."
"What else would I be doing -- sitting at home by myself?" Haden said. "It's all about giving back, and at the same time, it's so much fun."
Especially for fans on the receiving end of Haden's generosity. Stephen Marini Garvin saw Haden's tweet offering to buy a meal at Sushi Rock this summer, and merely shrugged until his brother argued, "Why wouldn't we go?"
Garvin and his brother were the first to arrive out of about 75 people who received free sushi, and had a short conversation with Haden about their alma maters -- Garvin attended Florida State. Garvin was impressed.
"For me as an FSU alum to say that means he truly is performing above and beyond expectations both on and off the field," he said. "The way he continues to show support for Cleveland's other professional teams and members of the community should be a blueprint to athletes everywhere. He's a welcome change to the last guy we thought loved Cleveland as much as we loved him."
That's a not-so-subtle dig at one local product who never seemed to embrace Cleveland in the same way during his seven years as a Cavalier.
"When LeBron James was around here, you didn't know it," said Haden's personal assistant, Jason Simmons. "Joe's a really good guy for the city because wherever he goes, he talks to everyone."
Added Theresa Bolinger, a friend of Haden's: "LeBron was from here and he couldn't even do all the stuff Joe does."
Despite Haden's on-the-go schedule, he makes his job with the Browns his priority. He revels in the nickname "Lockdown Joe" that has been replicated on T-shirts by a local company. He logged six interceptions in his rookie season, and became known as a fast-learning speedster who has star potential.
Dedicated Browns fans appreciated his interaction via his Twitter feed @joehaden23, which declares he's "No Ordinary Joe."
John Rozak, a 21-year-old from Medina, was the sole fan sporting Haden's jersey at Browns training camp one day last week. Rozak received Haden's autograph last year after a game, and has been a devoted follower ever since.
"I like the fact that he's active in the city," Rozak said. "You see him at Cavs games and Indians games all the time. You always see Cribbs and Haden on TV, and they're always tweeting."
Haden contends he has yet to deny an autograph request, and is quick to accept most appearance offers. At a recent celebrity football appearance before the start of training camp, he grinned and signed every item shoved in his path. The hot, summer sun beat down, but the signing continued for anyone who asked for his scrawl.
"I say yes a lot more than I say no," Haden said. "I like interacting with people. Sometimes it can be overwhelming with everyone coming up all the time. It can be a little much. But you still do it. You've got to take the bad with the good."
Said Haden's father: "He hasn't had to be prepped on any of this. This is him. What you see is what you get."
Haden wants this season to be his breakout year, when he proves he can cover anyone on the football field for the Browns. But that doesn't mean he plans on curtailing his social nature. He still plans on his weekly bowling outing at Corner Alley, even if he hasn't seen his scores improve.
"It's really easy to do, honestly," Haden said. "Even if I didn't play football, I'd be doing all this stuff. I'm just trying to have a good time and make sure everyone knows I care about this city and appreciate the fans."
Source:
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/08/when_it_comes_to_his_new_homet.html
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