There was plenty of buzz about a Google browser over the years. Even the BBC covered it way back in 2004, around when the Chrome team was established: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3680942.stm

In addition, plenty of small blogs covered it: http://kottke.org/04/08/the-google-browser http://thetruthaboutmozilla.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/the-goo...

So there were plenty of rumors flying around about Chrome. Its just that they were lost in the sea of rumors any large company has.