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Browns T.J. Ward has two interceptions this season, including one against Buffalo that he returned for a touchdown.

(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

BEREA, Ohio – Lost in the stir created by T.J. Ward’s low hit on Rob Gronkowski was the impact the New England tight end had on Sunday’s game prior his third-quarter injury.

It was minimal -- one catch for 11 yards.

Although the Browns’ safety feels bad that his legal shoulder-to-knee contact ended Gronkowski’s season, Ward’s proud of his effort in neutralizing the two-time Pro Bowler. He also hopes it gives his detractors an appreciation for his pass-coverage abilities.

“I knew this was going to be one of my biggest challenges of the year,” said Ward, who drew primary coverage on Gronkowski. “The bigger the competition the more I think I rise to that level.”

The 6-6, 265-pound tight end was targeted just five times in the Patriots’ 27-26 win, finishing with two catches and 32 yards before tearing two knee ligaments in his collision with Ward.

The fourth-year Browns safety, a potential unrestricted free agent in March, is best known for his physical nature, especially against the run. Ward is bothered by the perception that his coverage skills are lacking.

“From the day I stepped on an NFL field if you look at my numbers, the times I have been targeted and passes defended I’ve been in the top five of safeties,” Ward said. “That kind of itches me the wrong way when I get that stigma of ‘I can’t cover, I’m only a box safety.’ Numbers speak for themselves, film speaks for itself.

“When I’m out there guys aren’t catching the ball on me all over the field. It is kind of irritating when I get that stigma. When I’m out there all I can do is prove myself as a high-level safety in this league and I do that. I think I do that every week.”

The NFL does not supply official rankings that would measure Ward’s claim. The coaching staff might be privy to such detail, however. The website ProFootballFocus.com rates Ward as the league’s second-best overall safety behind New England’s Devin McCourty. A season ago, Ward was sixth-best, according to the site.

In terms of quarterback passer rating when a ball is thrown into a coverage area, Ward ranks 10th among safeties this season, according to ProFootballFocus. He’s never finished a year in the top-10. Opponents are completing 57.5 percent of their passes this season into his coverage area, placing him 18th, per the website.

Browns cornerback Joe Haden, who arrived in Cleveland along with Ward in 2010, believes the strong safety is playing at a Pro Bowl level. The knock on Ward’s coverage skills, Haden said, is discussed among Browns defensive backs.

“We’re in the same room, so we always talk about that, how people don’t really think T.J. can cover,” Haden said. “His run support is what he’s really good at, but his cover skills are nice. He has some of the best feet on the team. I don’t know why no one is saying he really can cover. I think maybe because his run support is so good, that they don’t really look at his pass coverage.”

Ward and center Alex Mack represent the Browns’ biggest potential free agents. The team's second-leading tackler said he’s given no thought to Sunday being possibly his final home game in Cleveland.

Not surprisingly, Haden wants his best friend on the team re-signed and would tell management such if he were asked. The cornerback, however, won’t walk upstairs in the Berea facility and make demands to general manager Michael Lombardi.

“You’ve got to play your position -- stay in your lane, man,” Haden said. “You get in other people’s lane, you might get ran off the road. So my whole thing is I’m going to do what I’ve got to do. If there’s anything I can do to keep T.J. here, I’d do anything in my power for sure . . .”

Ward has said he wants to remain with the Browns, but realizes there are no certainties or friends on the business side of football.

He doesn’t feel unappreciated having played in a division with star safeties Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed, Ward said, but the Browns’ lack of success has limited his exposure to the average fan.

Ward added that his effort hasn’t changed in a contract year when other teams might be scouting him more closely.

“They are going to see my best whether it’s Game 1, Game 16 or whatever,” he said. “Whatever game it is, whoever I’m playing for, whenever I step on that field it’s 110 percent. That’s what you can expect from me.”