3 Cleveland Browns with poor starts to training camp
By Randy Gurzi
3. Chad Thomas, Defensive End
This one is tough to say because all indications are pointing to second-year defensive end Chad Thomas playing better in this camp than he did a season ago. A third-round pick out of Miami, Thomas recorded no statistics as a rookie and appeared in just four games.
His lack of production as a rookie has made him a target for heckling from fans and that got the best of him on Sunday. After getting into a fight with tight end Pharaoh Brown, Thomas and the rest of the team had to run sprints. Head coach Freddie Kitchens reminded the players they’re a team so the two players throwing punches led to punishment for everyone.
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While running the gassers, Thomas took some grief from the crowd and responded with a middle finger toward the crowd according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
"“While Thomas (6-5, 278) was powering through, a fan in the stands started yelling “Hustle No. 92!!’’ And “you’ll be sitting with us here next year’’ if you don’t get it together. Thomas ignored it at first, but then raised his middle finger toward the stands in the middle of a lap.” — Cabot, Cleveland.com"
This isn’t the end of the world but it’s not the best look for any player let alone one who already has a spotlight on him after a rough rookie season. Some veterans including Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi have spoken to Thomas and surely he’ll try and put this behind him.
A small mistake, but still, not the look he wants to convey.