Running Back Thomas Brown
Q: Are you excited to be selected by the hometown team?
A: “I’m very excited. It’s been a dream of mine, especially coming from Georgia and being born in the city of Atlanta. Now having the opportunity to play professional football with the Falcons is like a dream come true for me.”
Q: Who called you today?
A: “I was on the phone with Mike Smith and a few other coaches.”
Q: How do you look at the opportunity with the Falcons this season?
A: “I think it’s a good position for me. Most teams have four or five running backs, but I come from a system at Georgia where I’m used to compete with a number of guys. I’m just excited to play with (Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood) and contribute in anyway I can to this team.”
Q: Did the Falcons give you any indication that they were looking hard at you and that they would draft you?
A: “They really were. Actually the day before the draft on Friday afternoon, I had four or five calls from a number of scouts from the Atlanta Falcons that told me they were really considering me and that they would love for me to be here. But you never know how the draft is going to go and I was just sitting around and waiting in anticipation.”
Q: Have they talked to you at all about returning kickoffs or punts?
A: “They have not, but I think that’s pretty much an obvious thing. I have a kick returning background and I can bring back the punts as well.”
Q: Was it tough during the interview process to get teams to get past the injury concerns?
A: “It was really tough for me because, in my opinion, that’s the biggest knock for me. I really worked hard to appeal to them that I’m not injury prone. If you go back and look at the two injuries I had, the one was a knee injury on a kickoff return where I feel like anybody could’ve torn their ACL on that play. The second one was a crack in my collar bone when I dove into the end zone. But I had full recovery from all of those and I’m just excited about being a Falcon.”
On a recent big event in his life:
A: “I did. I got married Friday afternoon to my longtime high school girlfriend. So it’s been a wonderful weekend for us.”
Q: What’s her name?
A: “Jessica Brown.”
Q: Where did the service take place?
A: “West Mitchell C.M.E., right down the street from the Georgia Dome.”
Q: Was it a big wedding?
A: “It was a relatively small wedding. Both of our families were there and a few of my old Georgia teammates had an opportunity to come.”
Q: So is the honeymoon put off until after mini camp?
A: “Of course. The first step is coming in and getting acquainted with the team and earning my spot.”
Q: The Falcons running game has been really good until last year, do you think you can help them get back on track?
A: “Most definitely. I feel like I can come in and contribute immediately. I feel as though I bring a lot of things to the table, not only my running game but also in the passing game and picking up blitzes as well.”
Q: What were some of the concerns during the recruiting process?
A: “I think it was mainly whether or not I was sturdy enough. I think they would look at my size, being 5’8”, 205 pounds, that I can’t carry low and can’t handle pounding. The two injuries I had didn’t help my case at all. Like I said, overall, I feel like I’m an every-down running back. I just ask them to let me come out and prove that.”
Q: How did you do picking up blitzes at Georgia?
A: “I did well, but in my opinion that’s the hardest part of being a running back. From high school to college, that’s the biggest adjustment because in high school you don’t have to pick up too many blitzes or have too many reads.”
