Browns CB Joe Haden Wants to Put an End to the 'R-Word'

Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden has spoken his piece about the "R-word," calling for its end.

"Open up your vocabulary, people," Haden told ESPN.com's Steve Wulf. "The R-word is hurtful, hateful and ignorant. Like the N-word, it should not be part of our language."

For Haden, the first NFL player to be named a Special Olympics Ambassador, this is an issue that hits close to home.

In fact, his involvement with the Special Olympics is rooted in his relationship with his younger brother, Jacob, who has a cognitive disorder.

"He's just a really cool kid, a blessing to me and my family," Haden told Wulf. "I play for him, and I would do anything for him."

The two-time Pro Bowl selection has used his platform in the past to promote the movement Spread the Word to End the Word, which works to raise awareness about "the hurtfulness of the R-word."

Haden's outspoken stance has garnered positive reaction, perhaps most notably from former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner:

Jason Miller/Getty Images

[ESPN, h/t Yahoo Sports]