Less Browne
In any discussion of the best defensive backs in the history of the CFL, expect Less Browne's name to be mentioned. Browne was a five time All Canadian selection and four times hit double figures in interceptions. Browne was drafted by the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL in the thirteenth round of the 1984 draft, but signed with Hamilton in April of 1984. Browne played five seasons in Hamilton from 1984 to 1988, garnering two All Canadian selections in 1985 (12 interceptions) and 1986 (8 interceptions). Browne was released by Hamilton in October of 1988 despite another 8 intereption year for the Tiger-Cats. Browne was signed as a free agent by Edmonton in March of 1989, but released before he season started and signed by Winnipeg. Browne spent three season ins Winnpeg (1989 to 1991) adding two more All Canadian honours in 1990 and 1991 in which he had 14 and 10 interceptions respectively. Browne was traded to Ottawa for the 1992 season in exchange for receiver Gerald Wilcox. Browne picked up his fifth All Canadian honour with Ottawa, intercepting 11 passes. Browne was part of a big trade with BC in April of 1993 as he was traded west along with offensive lineman Rob Smith and linebacker Patrick Wayne for kicker Mike Lamie, offenssive lineman Carl Coulter and Chris Gioskos, linebacker Mark Scott and cornerback Joe Mero. Browne picked off five passes for the Lions in his last season. Less Browne was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2002..
Games Played, Tackles and Sacks
Year |
Team |
GP |
T |
ST |
Total |
TFL |
Yds |
KD |
Sacks |
Yds |
1984 |
HAM |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
1985 |
HAM |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1986 |
HAM |
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1987 |
HAM |
16 |
45 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
1988 |
HAM |
15 |
42 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
1989 |
WPG |
17 |
32 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
1990 |
WPG |
18 |
42 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
1991 |
WPG |
16 |
33 |
5 |
38 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
1992 |
OTT |
17 |
40 |
8 |
48 |
1 |
1 |
|
0 |
|
1993 |
BC |
18 |
49 |
0 |
49 |
2 |
15 |
|
0 |
|
Interceptions
Year |
Team |
Int |
Yds |
Avg |
TDInt |
Long |
1984 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1985 |
HAM |
12 |
166 |
13.8 |
0 |
34 |
1986 |
HAM |
8 |
128 |
16 |
1 |
42 |
1987 |
HAM |
5 |
32 |
6.4 |
0 |
19 |
1988 |
HAM |
8 |
90 |
11.3 |
0 |
27 |
1989 |
WPG |
3 |
31 |
10.3 |
0 |
19 |
1990 |
WPG |
14 |
273 |
19.5 |
1 |
45 |
1991 |
WPG |
10 |
267 |
26.7 |
0 |
55 |
1992 |
OTT |
11 |
259 |
23.5 |
0 |
76 |
1993 |
BC |
5 |
140 |
28 |
1 |
52 |
Fumble Recoveries
Year |
Team |
FR |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Long |
OFR |
FF |
1984 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1985 |
HAM |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1986 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
1987 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1988 |
HAM |
2 |
16 |
8 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
|
1989 |
WPG |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1990 |
WPG |
2 |
1 |
0.5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
1991 |
WPG |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1992 |
OTT |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
1993 |
BC |
1 |
85 |
85 |
1 |
85 |
0 |
|
Kickoff Returns
Year |
Team |
KOR |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Long |
1984 |
HAM |
2 |
72 |
36 |
0 |
31 |
1985 |
HAM |
2 |
13 |
6.5 |
0 |
10 |
1986 |
HAM |
20 |
520 |
26 |
0 |
61 |
1987 |
HAM |
1 |
26 |
26 |
0 |
26 |
1988 |
HAM |
1 |
62 |
62 |
0 |
62 |
1989 |
WPG |
1 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
1990 |
WPG |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1991 |
WPG |
3 |
57 |
19 |
0 |
25 |
1992 |
OTT |
1 |
15 |
15 |
0 |
15 |
1993 |
BC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Punt Returns
Year |
Team |
PR |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Long |
1984 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1985 |
HAM |
5 |
42 |
8.4 |
0 |
25 |
1986 |
HAM |
1 |
47 |
47 |
0 |
47 |
1987 |
HAM |
1 |
82 |
82 |
1 |
82 |
1988 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1989 |
WPG |
5 |
-8 |
-1.6 |
0 |
6 |
1990 |
WPG |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1991 |
WPG |
2 |
15 |
7.5 |
0 |
9 |
1992 |
OTT |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1993 |
BC |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Missed Field Goal Returns
Year |
Team |
MFGRet |
Yds |
TD |
Long |
1984 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1985 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1986 |
HAM |
2 |
70 |
0 |
50 |
1987 |
HAM |
4 |
41 |
0 |
20 |
1988 |
HAM |
8 |
111 |
0 |
54 |
1989 |
WPG |
5 |
100 |
0 |
41 |
1990 |
WPG |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1991 |
WPG |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1992 |
OTT |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1993 |
BC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Fumbles
Year |
Team |
F |
FL |
1984 |
HAM |
2 |
1 |
1985 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
1986 |
HAM |
1 |
0 |
1987 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
1988 |
HAM |
0 |
0 |
1989 |
WPG |
0 |
0 |
1990 |
WPG |
0 |
0 |
1991 |
WPG |
1 |
0 |
1992 |
OTT |
0 |
0 |
1993 |
BC |
0 |
0 |
|
|