Report: Browns CB Joe Haden facing suspension for failed drug test

Haden's reportedly facing a four-game suspension for a failed drug test. (US Presswire)

Browns cornerback Joe Haden is one of the few bright spots on a potentially terrible football team (he even cracked CBSSports.com's All AFC North Team). So hearing a report that he failed a drug test is very bad news for Cleveland football.

But Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland is reporting just that. Grossi reports that the NFL is "currently reviewing" a failed drug test from Haden, and that the cornerback could potentially face a four-game suspension to begin the season.

One source told Grossi that Haden's suspension resulted from a positive test for Adderall during the offseason.

"I am unaware of any situation like that," Haden's manager told Grossi.

The league also declined comment on the possibility of Haden failing a drug test and a Browns spokesman told Gross that they “don't know anything about that" and "can't confirm."

Obviously a four-game suspension for Haden would be devastating for the Browns. He's their best defensive back and probably their best defensive player, and losing him would drastically reduce their ability to limit opposing offenses through the air. In addition, Haden has blossomed into one of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL (ProFootballFocus.com graded him out as the ninth-best cornerback in the league in 2011) and seeing his progress stifled is just frustrating.

The league hasn't officially announced the suspension yet, so it shouldn't be all doom-and-gloom for the Browns, and it's always possible that, like Andre Brown of the Giants, Haden could have his suspension reduced if he is medically cleared to take whatever caused the failed test.

But it's safe to say that between this reported news and the increasingly terrifying nightmare that is Trent Richardson's knee injury, new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam might not be fired up to the max today.