A few minutes with Brandon Browner

Published on August 5, 2011 by Tacoma News Tribune (Feed)     

Brandon Browner spent the past four years in the Canadian Football League playing cornerback for the Calgary Stampeders. And Browner has been impressive, earning All-CFL honors the past three years.

“It was great for me,” Browner said. “It was a chance to play ball and do what I love. I’ve been trying to get back here for the last four years, and I’m finally here. I’m happy to be here with a great team and a great group of guys around me. I’m having fun right now, and living out my dream, you know what I mean?”

The one that got away

A Southern California native, Browner, 27, got away from Pete Carroll and the Trojans, winding up at Oregon State. Browner earned PAC-10 Freshman of the year honors for the Beavers, and also was selected to the All-PAC-10 second team that season.

“I’m a California guy, too, so he recruited me out of high school,” Browner said. “I got away from him, and I’m happy to be back. He’s one of those coaches that you want to play for.”

Down and out in Denver

After an impressive college career, Browner was picked up as an undrafted rookie free agent b Denver in 2005. He had an impressive training camp cut short two weeks into preseason play, when he suffered a fractured left forearm and was placed on the injured reserve, missing the rest of the season.

Denver released Browner a year later, and he landed in the CFL.

“I was a young guy when I got released by the Broncos,” he said. “Up there I learned to appreciate the game. In the CFL obviously the money is a lot different. I went up there and did what I love to do. Money wasn’t the issue.”

A big corner

At 6-4, 220 pounds, Browner is the biggest cornerback on Seattle’s roster. He fits the type of player Carroll is looking for at the position – a big, physical corner who can own the line of scrimmage and run.

The Seahawks have a young group, so Browner said he and the other players are leaning on veterans Marcus Trufant and Kelly Jennings, Seattle’s starting cornerback tandem from last year.

“Trufant is a heck of a athlete,” he said. “He’s going into his ninth year, and he’s got a lot of football knowledge, and we’re trying to soak up as much as we can.

“I’m still learning. I’m still new here, and they’re throwing things at us fast during training camp, so I’m still taking my time trying to get used to it.”

Tags: Beavers, Brandon Browner, Broncos, Calgary Stampeders, Canadian Football League, Cfl, College Career, Free Agent, Having Fun, Injured Reserve, Kelly Jennings, Left Forearm, Line Of Scrimmage, Marcus Trufant, Oregon State, Pac 10, Pete Carroll, Playing Cornerback, Seahawks, Young Group