The mood in the Cleveland Browns building has been buzzing the entire month of May.
The additions of Danny Shelton, Cameron Erving and 10 other rookies have the coaching staff and veteran players borderline giddy about the expanding talent on the roster.
And what the Cleveland Cavaliers are doing on the basketball court this postseason has also become a main topic of conversation.
Cornerback Joe Haden has been a regular in the stands, and even left tackle Joe Thomas made an appearance Tuesday night for the Cavs' 106-101 Game 5 victory against the Chicago Bulls. Both Pro Bowlers have loudly grabbed the microphone at home games during commercial breaks to energize the crowd.
Haden in particular has been one of the Cavs' most dedicated, high-profile fans since his arrival in Cleveland in 2010. Five years later, the Cavs are one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. The 26-year-old's voice jumps an octave when he talks about his basketball team.
"The atmosphere in there is crazy and the players are playing so hard," Haden about the Cavalier's playoff run thus far. "You know how I feel about LeBron. I love him to death. He could do no wrong for me. He's killing it. For Kyrie to be able to experience his first playoffs, he's one of my good friends. Tristan Thompson, too. I'm just really, really happy for these dudes."
Safety Donte Whitner, quarterback Johnny Manziel, running backs Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell, linebacker Chris Kirksey, wide receiver Travis Benjamin, outside linebacker Armonty Bryant and defensive lineman John Hughes have found themselves high-fiving alongside their fellow Clevelanders watching a LeBron James dunk or a silky three-pointer from Kyrie Irving.
General manager Ray Farmer has been in attendance for the last two Cavs games. Defensive line coach Anthony Weaver was rocking a No.2 Irving jersey to Game 5 and area scout Chisom Opara sported a Timofey Mozgov t-shirt around the office earlier this week. Chit-chat in the cafeteria has shifted from Shelton's iconic bear hug with commissioner Roger Goodell, to how well shooting guard Iman Shumphert has stepped up in clutch moments.
It's no secret that the Browns' playoff drought has hit its 13th season. It's also not a secret the Cavs' success is whetting the appetite of Cleveland fans who've waited their whole lives to witness a championship.
Haden and the Browns aren't putting the Cavaliers up on a pedestal, but there's no denying Cleveland's NBA squad has Browns players thirsty for the playoffs. Playing sports when everything is on the line is a professional athlete's livelihood. Haden is going to do everything in his power to deliver this electric feeling the Cavs are giving Cleveland to the Dawg Pound.
"It makes you think, I'm in this city too. And I want to make some noise," said Haden. "And you see the attention they are getting and everything. And it's not hate – you love it. But you want to feel that for yourself and for your team as well.
"I see the drive that they have and the motivation to win. It really makes me think, C'mon man, we really gotta get this for us."
