Pittsburgh Steelers: Joe Haden takes jab at winless Cleveland Browns

Although Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden is on the verge of playing his first career NFL playoff game, he took a moment to lob a verbal shot at his former team.

Haden declined to take a pay cut in the offseason by former Cleveland Browns general manager Sashi Brown, with the 28-year-old reportedly saying that Brown didn't view him as a top-five cornerback. Instead, Haden requested his release from the team with which he spent his first seven NFL seasons.

"They were going to pay Brock Osweiler $16 million and he's not even on the team (after being signed and then released on Sept. 1)," Haden told Sports Illustrated, "and they wanted to cut money from me!"

The Browns acquired Osweiler in March from Houston in a deal that sent the quarterback, the Texans' 2018 second-round pick and a 2017 sixth-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for a 2017 fourth-round pick.

The Steelers promptly signed Haden to a three-year, $27 million deal on Aug. 30. Although his role has been reduced, Haden has helped Pittsburgh's defense finish fifth-best in the league in passing yards allowed (201.1).

Haden took another shot at the Browns earlier this week, telling ESPN that the parade for the winless team was "really lame."

"It is what it is," Haden said. "I feel like if you want to be that miserable and go have an 0-16 parade, then have fun.

"I just think it's lame. I think they went 0-16, the organization and everybody is not happy with it. I feel like the fans, they're not going to be happy about celebrating an 0-16 parade. I just think it's really lame."

Haden had 20 tackles and one interception in 11 games with the Steelers, who host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in the AFC divisional round.