Falcons pick Georgia's Brown in 6th round
Marcus Howard selected by Colts

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/27/08

Thomas Brown had long waited for this weekend.

He sweated the details. He stomached the butterflies. He dreamed of the possibilities. And he couldn't wait until it arrived.

Brown was married to his fiancée Jessica Brown in small ceremony at West Mitchell CME Friday.

Oh yeah, the Georgia running back also was drafted to play in the NFL. He always was one to multi-task like in his last semester when he took 21 hours of classes and rushed for nearly 78 yards per game for the No. 2 Bulldogs.

Now his act will move just down the road to Atlanta. The Tucker High graduate was picked in the sixth round (No. 172 overall) by the Falcons Sunday.

"I'm very excited," Brown said. "It's a dream of mine, being born in the City of Atlanta, playing my ball here at Georgia. Having the opportunity to go to the National Football League and play for the Falcons is a dream come true for me."

Brown wasn't the only Georgia player living his dream Sunday. Brown's former teammate, Marcus Howard, was selected in the fifth round by Indianapolis.

"I think I'll be able to help the Colts rush the passer," Howard told the media in Indianapolis. "They have a couple of guys just like me, probably just a tad bit bigger. I think I'm going to come in, help them rush the passer and help them on special teams.

"Just watching those guys play the past three or four years, I've seen the defensive ends that they use. It's pretty much the same Tampa two (defense) we got here at UGA. I think I'm going to come in and help the team out."

Howard led the Southeastern Conference in sacks last season with 10.5. At 6-foot, 237-pounds, the biggest knock on Howard had been his size. He came to Georgia as a linebacker before the move to defensive end.

For Brown the questions will surround his size and durability. When healthy Brown was one of the most productive backs in Georgia history. He ranks fifth in rushing yards with 2,646 and averaged five yards per carry.

But Brown suffered a knee injury as a junior. He also broke his collarbone as a senior. Still the 5-9, 205-pound running back was able to bounce back from those injuries to help lead his team to the Sugar Bowl in 2007.

Now Brown will be vying for a spot in a backfield that features veterans Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood.

"I think it is a good situation for me,'" Brown said. "Most teams have four or five running backs. But I come from a system at Georgia where you had to compete against a number of guys."

Georgia typically had three running backs vying for carries throughout Brown's career.

As for his NFL career, it will get started before his honeymoon. The first mini-camp is May 9-11.

"I'm looking forward to coming and getting acquainted with the new team and earning my spot," Brown said.

This may not bode well for Snelling. My wife is a GA fan, so we've watched a few games this past year. Knowshon is all the shit over there, but I saw Brown come in and hold his own quite a few times as well. He reminds me more of Turner than Norwood, and Moreno reminds me of Norwood more than Turner. Going to be interesting to see how this shakes out.
I also gotta wonder if Snelling's epilepsy played any part in them taking another RB, or if they're just trying to get REALLY deep at this position based on scheme.

If it weren't for the injuries, Brown would remind me EXACTLY of a strong Warrick Dunn.

Yeah, he's a little bit taller than Dunn, though, right? I didn't think we really needed to draft a RB, but for a guy picked up in later rounds, and Tashard Choice off the boards this was a solid pickup.

FWIW, and I'm as big a Tech homer as they come, Choice wasn't as good a pick as Brown. Choice has never really done return duties. Brown has. His versatility makes him the better pick.

Plus, didn't Choice go in like the 4th? Nowhere near the value Brown was. Choice is a better RB, but not that much better, and he has never really been a return man.

He went to the Giants, I think in the 4th or 5th round. I thought it was quite an honor that they selected him, but I see your point. I have no problems at all w/the Thomas Brown pick.