The Sports Xchange

Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine came to the defense of cornerback Joe Haden, saying Wednesday that he’s to blame for criticism directed at the Pro Bowler for not playing with a broken finger on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

Haden decided before the game to sit out after breaking the finger a week earlier in a loss at home to the Oakland Raiders.

Pettine said Monday that Haden made the judgment on his own not to play. But Pettine attempted Wednesday to deflect the criticism of Haden, saying it was the coach’s fault because of the way he explained the situation.

“I will bear some of that blame just in detailing the procedure and how it went,” Pettine said. “But Joe made the decision based on he didn’t feel he could be 100 percent and he felt it would hurt the team if he played. So it’s something that I’ve talked about it with him and I’m comfortable with where we are with it.”

Without Haden, the Browns gave up 358 yards and three touchdowns through the air in a 30-27 loss.

“Nobody questions his toughness, his leadership, how important the Browns are to him, what football, what being a Cleveland Brown means to him and vice versa,” Pettine said. “So I think it’s unwarranted, and I misspoke. Joe wanted to be out there. He wanted to play. But just in his assessment, did not want to put the team at risk knowing that he could not be at the percentage that in his heart he knew couldn’t get to.”