CHICAGO -- Former Browns cornerback Joe Haden admitted Thursday that it will be easier standing next to Ben Roethlisberger in the opener Sept. 10 against the Browns than across the field like he was all of those years.

Roethlisberger, of course, is 20-2 against the Browns since they passed on him in the 2004 draft.

What's more, Haden will enjoy practicing against star receiver Antonio Brown more than trying to shut him down.



"I can't wait for that, just having this explosive offense here, because I've played against these dudes,'' Haden told the Steelers' website while at the team hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday. "Iron sharpens iron, so at practice to be able to get right. and just knowing that you're going into the game with them and not against them, it's a lighter feeling.''

Haden, who was cut by the Browns Wednesday morning and signed with the Steelers later that night for three years and $27 million, acknowledged the magnitude of playing against the Browns after seven years here.

"It's going to be an emotional experience just because I've had so much time there and it's a quick turnaround right back in there,'' he said. "So it should be special. I'm really excited about the opportunity. I'm just ready to get to playing some football and making plays.''

Haden, who was upset when the Browns cut him, described Wednesday as "a blur.''

"Everything was moving really fast,'' he said. "It was kind of tough, just the relationships that I've had out there, just being out there in Cleveland, having lot of friends, turning into family with me, but at the end of the day, once that happened, we worked fast.''

He said the Steelers were the first team to call his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

"I know (Maurkice) Pouncey and (Marcus) Gilbert, we went to college together and won a national championship,'' he said. "And coach (Mike) Tomlin, every time we play against the Steelers we always speak to each other, so we've had a nice relationship even since the (NFL Scouting) Combine. So when I ended up coming out here to the (team) hotel, it just worked out perfectly.''

He said he had other offers "but with me it was more just the opportunity to be able to be with an organization that I know just that structure. I had some other teams, Miami, New Orlean, Dallas. But just for me, my fit, talking to my agent, talking to my family, I just felt like this would be the best fit for me.''

Haden said it's almost easier going to a division rival because of the familiarity.

"It just felt right, and then coming out here meeting everybody, meeting the owner, I can tell it's an organization that's run very, very well,'' he said.

He said he's learning right now from cornerback William Gay.

"He's a cool, cool dude,'' said Haden. "He's kind of just showing me the playbook and the thing is I played for (former Steelers assistant) coach Ray Horton and it's kind of the same defense. Just a little bit of the terminology's a little different, but I played for coach Horton twice and they basically have the same terminology so it's kind of going to be a quick learning experience.''