Travis Benjamin is exactly what the Cleveland Browns needed at wide receiver.

Much is expected of the Cleveland Browns 2012 draft class. Especially near the top such as running back Trent Richardson, quarterback Brandon Weeden, and offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz. But one rookie who may have a big impact on the Browns success could be wide receiver Travis Benjamin, and he’s got the right attitude.

“I just come out here every day to get better,” Benjamin said to the media in Berea on Tuesday. “Knowing my speed, I know I can run past most anybody. I just work on the little things, coming in and out of my breaks and focusing more on the ball. In practice, as long as it’s competitive, that means you can get ready.”

Benjamin is right about his speed. He ran a 4:26 40-yard-dash time at the University of Miami’s pro day prior to the draft. But seeing a young man such as Benjamin recognizing that it’s “the little things” that make the difference is a breath of fresh air. This is especially in comparison to another wide receiver rookie Justin Blackmon who has already demonstrated immaturity and has already begun giving the Jaguars front office and coaching staff headaches.

Not only is Benjamin willing to learn and absorb as much as he can, but he wants to do the things it takes to become a complete player and not just a speedster. “I learned that every day, I can come out here and get better, either catching the ball, running routes, even being on special teams. I’m learning new things every day. Each and every day, you can wake up and say, ‘I’ve got to get better on the small things.”

Benjamin could very well be the fastest player that the Browns have. He demonstrated in college that he can create separation. He has the skill-set which makes him a possible deep threat. If there is any question about how Benjamin will perform it is his ability to handle press coverage which he did not see much of at Miami. “We’ve seen where he can catch the ball in the deep part of the field,”  Coach Pat Shurmur said. “It’s nice to be able to run fast, but as you’re far away from the quarterback, being able to track the ball is something you need to be able to do and I think he can do that. He is a good route-runner. We can’t bump-and-run in these camps, so I can’t see him against press coverage, but from what I can tell, he has the ability to separate and we’ll know more about that when we get into training camp.”

As of right now Benjamin is competing hard and his role in the Browns offense is not yet determined. But he is demonstrating the right attitude and work ethic which will give him the edge he needs to compete with his fellow teammates for playing time. If only every rookie coming into the league had Benjamin’s type of character, then the league would be a much better place.

Michael W. Youngman--Lead Analyst AFC North
Michael is the Lead Analyst for the AFC North Report and the Cleveland Browns Report. He has written many articles that have been featured by playerpress.com, cantonrep.com, FoxSports.com, and of course this site. Michael has also written a book titled “The Dayton Project” published in 2008 by PublishAmerica. He makes his home in the Hall of Fame City of Canton Ohio with his wife Lisa and his two children Joseph and Jennifer. To learn more, visit his Website