ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEREA, Ohio — Joe Haden's slow times in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine didn't scare away the Cleveland Browns.

Once on the clock, they didn't waste one second before taking the cornerback.

Unable to move in the first round, the Browns selected Haden, a two-time All-American at Florida, with the No. 7 overall pick in Thursday's first round.

“We thought he was the best fit for us at No. 7,” Browns general manager Tom Heckert said. “He was a guy we spent a lot of time with and evaluating. He's a bigger corner that can really play the run, has good cover ability, is a smart kid and he's tough.

“We liked Joe all along in the process.”

Haden is the first player taken by Cleveland's new regime of Heckert and Browns president Mike Holmgren, who was brought in to restore this troubled franchise.

The 5-foor-10, 193-pounder, who wept when he was called by the Browns, is also the second addition to Cleveland's shaky secondary after the Browns acquired former Pro Bowler Sheldon Brown in a trade from Philadelphia earlier this month.

Sheldon's arrival seemed to lessen the possibility of Haden going to the Browns, but coach Eric Mangini said 21-year-old passed the criteria needed to earn a “green sticker.”

“Smart, tough, hardworking, competitive,” Mangini said. “Somebody who is selfless, somebody who the game is important to.”

Despite being bothered by a bad lower back, Berry ran several 40-yard sprints in Indianapolis, one of them at 4.57 seconds — way too slow for a cornerback. Concerns about his speed dropped his stock, but the Browns were pleased when he did much better at his pro day.

“He ran fast,” said Heckert, who would not divulge the times.

Heckert said the Browns talked to a number of teams about moving up in the draft. Cleveland was believed to be interested in Tennessee safety Eric Berry, but he was selected by Kansas City at No. 5. Heckert also confirmed reports that the Browns spoke to St. Louis about the No. 1 overall pick.

“We talked to them, but that was really about it,” he said.

Haden visited the Browns along with quarterback Tim Tebow, who gave his Gators teammate an enthusiastic endorsement.

“Tim said, 'I'd take this guy with me wherever I'd go,'” Heckert said.

The Browns have nine more picks, including the No. 38 overall and three (Nos. 71, 85, and 92) in the third round.

First Published April 23, 2010, 2:00 a.m.