BROWNS Thompson happy he made trip

The rookie linebacker was a guest at Kahunaville in the Eastwood Mall.
By DAVE DEVEREUX
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NILES -- The distance from Canyon, Texas, to Cleveland is approximately 1,400 miles.
For Chaun Thompson, the Cleveland Browns rookie linebacker from West Texas A & amp;M, it was the trip of his life. And the stay has been even better.
"I love it, I really do," Thompson said. "Coming in, playing very limited football your whole life, then all of a sudden playing in the league with the best in the world, it's been an honor for me.
"Every time I put on that helmet I am so happy."
Guest of boosters
Thompson was a guest of the Ohio Browns Boosters Fan Club at Kahunaville in the Eastwood Mall Tuesday.
Prior to the party, Thompson stopped in Girard to talk with the Little Indians football team.
"I basically told them that you have to go out there and play every game as hard as you possibly can," Thompson said. "If you do that, then you're winning the game within yourself. You won't even have to worry about the scoreboard.
"And I told them that you have to go through the good and bad times together."
Thompson's advice to the younger players, apparently, holds true in the NFL, too.
Browns' comeback
After an 0-2 start, the Browns have won three of five contests, winning games against San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Oakland. However, they've also come up on the short end against Cincinnati and San Diego.
Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Chargers dropped the Browns to 3-4 and left the players wondering if they hadn't just let an opportunity slip away.
"You talk about some upset men that can snap somebody anytime they want to," Thompson said. "We should've come out and performed better.
"But it's the same thing as I told those kids," he added. "There should be no finger pointing, not on offense, not on defense. We all came out and left together."
To this point, Thompson has mostly made his presence felt on special teams, registering seven tackles. On Sunday, he saw increased playing time, getting a few opportunities to spell the starters, rookie Andra Davis and second-year men Kevin Bentley and Ben Taylor.
Felt behind a first
Thompson felt a little bit behind at first, due to playing college football in Division II.
"I'm pretty cool on the physical part, but it's in coverage, making checks, and little things like that," Thompson said. "I wasn't way behind, just a tad behind."
Thompson was drafted by the Browns in the second round of the NFL Draft.
Despite a lack of national exposure playing at a small school, scouts were aware of his potential after his workout numbers included a consistent 4.40 time in the 40 -- fastest among all linebackers -- a 36-inch vertical leap and 29 reps at 225-pounds.
He said his goal is to get better all-round.
"My attitude is to be the best at everything, I don't aim for second," Thompson said. "But right now I just have to be ready whenever coach [Butch] Davis calls my number."
Opportunity
Thompson said for now he's going to take advantage of any opportunity he can get.
"Anytime you take the field you gotta take pride, because it can be short-lived," he said. "There are two types of people in this league, people that don't get cut and people that have already been cut. If you keep performing, even if you get cut, maybe another team will see something in you."
"But I don't think I'm going anywhere," he added. "I love the Cleveland Browns. I'm having a good time."