Joe Haden: A Great Gator, An Even Better Human Being

All too often we get wrapped up in worrying about what happens on the field with our favorite team or favorite players, rather than exploring the other side, the human aspect of the sports world.

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You don’t have to remind Gator fans just how talented and impressive Joe Haden was during his time at the University of Florida.

The former 4-star recruit out of Washington, D.C. had one of the more impressive careers in UF history: A two-time All-American, the 2009 National Defensive Player of the Year and a BCS National Champion are just some of the few highlights of Haden’s college career.

The former wide receiver went on to be drafted 7^th overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2010 and has since made two Pro Bowls in his short professional career.

But what impresses me most about Haden isn’t all of the on-field accolades he so richly earned.

I am more impressed by the upstanding, caring, human being he has become off the field.

Haden was recently featured in an ESPN piece about his involvement with the upcoming Special Olympics.

Haden talked about how his brother, Jacob, suffers from a cognitive disorder that hampers his speech and use of language.

Jan 25, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Team Irvin cornerback Joe Haden of the Cleveland Browns (23) gets Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor before the 2015 Pro Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL star also talked about the power of everyday language and words like “retarded” and “retard” are just as hurtful to the mentally disabled, as is the N-word to African Americans.

“Open up your vocabulary, people,” Haden said in the ESPN piece. “The R-word is hurtful, hateful and ignorant. Like the N-word, it should not be part of our language.”

I can’t help but feel an emotional connection to Haden’s passion to stamp out such an evil word in the English language.

Admittedly, growing up, the R-word was just another word that I threw around from my mouth when it came to joking with friends or when we tried to poke fun at each other.

Looking back at on my life then, I truly am ashamed for even thinking that saying the word was okay.

When I went to college and began to work in Residence Life, we received sensitivity training as to how hurtful and demeaning the R-word and others can truly be.

The R-word is hurtful, hateful and ignorant. Like the N-word, it should not be part of our language”

For the first time, my eyes were opened to how the words we think mean nothing, can end up scaring another person for life.

When I think about Haden’s love and brotherly protection for Jacob, I can’t help but to think about my own aunt, and how much the R-word would hurt her down to her very soul if she heard others utter it around her.

In the macho, never-show-emotions world of professional football, Joe Haden is taking his own path; he is blazing a trail where other athletes should gleefully follow.

He’s showing that words really can do damage to others, even if you don’t intend to.

Haden is choosing to stand out from amongst the crowd, even though it may not be the coolest or most Twitter-trendy thing to do.

To me, that’s what a Florida Gator looks like.

To me, that is how a professional athlete should sound like.

To me, that is how every human being should act like.

We all can’t play football the way Joe Haden can.

But we can sure as hell try to be as good of a person he appears to be.

Next: Abby Wombach: The Greatest Gator You've Never Heard Of

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