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Brandon Browner is looking for his payday. His payday and some payback, to be exact.

Ten days ago, the towering cornerback and his Calgary Stampeders teammates were trumped 37-34 by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. On top of that, Browner was later fined an undisclosed amount by the CFL for verbally haranguing an on-field official. On top of that, he missed out on the pot – again.

The pot has become a pregame tradition among the Stampeders defensive backs. Before every game, they toss an undisclosed amount of money into a pile and the player who records the most interceptions that game gets the money.

In the loss to Saskatchewan, no one from Calgary intercepted Riders' quarterback Michael Bishop, who threw for 242 yards and wasn't sacked, either. That means the pot carries over to Monday's holiday rematch at McMahon Stadium, where the Stampeders are anxious to regain their winning form while thieving as many passes as possible.

“It's for extra motivation,” said Browner, who has yet to reap any extra financial rewards this season despite making three interceptions. “Whenever I get my picks, [free safety] Wes Lysack always seems to get one more.”

Getting picks hasn't been easy for the Stampeders, who have managed just 12 this season, the second-worst total in the league, tied with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Browner's dilemma is that he doesn't always see many passes thrown to his side of the field.

Watch him play a few games and you understand why.

At 6-foot-3, 210-pounds, Browner is a cornerback built like a linebacker. He can run, he can cover and he can hit to hurt. Most every game, he is lined up against the opposition's best receiver (Paris Jackson or Geroy Simon of the B.C. Lions, Derick Armstrong of the Blue Bombers) and most every game Browner does his job with precious little help.

“We put him in man-to-man situations and expect him to hold his ground,” Calgary head coach John Hufnagel said. “Brandon is probably the most physical cornerback I've been associated with, now or in the past.”

Browner had the makings of an NFL defensive back after signing with the Denver Broncos in 2005. Although he wasn't drafted coming out of Oregon State, he was having a strong training camp at safety until he broke a forearm.

Soon after he recovered, he was released by Denver and signed by the Stampeders, who watched him regain his confidence as the 2007 season progressed.

“I'm a little more comfortable at corner and I've shown I can cover at corner,” Browner said. “At safety, you read and cover the tight end or back coming out of the backfield. Here, I've shown my overall abilities and gotten it on some game film.”

Corey Chamberlain is the Stampeders' defensive backfield coach and a firm believer that the team has yet to see the best of the 24-year-old Browner, who is having an all-star season.

“The mental aspect of his game isn't lacking; it's still growing,” Chamberlain said. “It's a matter of him being able to read routes more, put his hands on people; he does that, he'll get into that Juran Bolden-mould.

“I want to put all that info into him so he's 24 and thinking like an eight-, nine-year veteran.”

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Bolden was an NFL draft choice who played several years in the United States before becoming a wrecking machine with Winnipeg. Browner is in the final year of his Calgary contract and would like a second try at the NFL. But for now, getting the best from himself and his teammates is all that matters.

“I'm not one to toot my own horn. I don't think I'll ever be satisfied,” Browner said. “The [interception] numbers aren't there and we have to get better.”

Browner is expected to see plenty of rookie Saskatchewan receiver Gerran Walker. The two matched wits in the Riders' victory with Walker catching three passes for 34 yards. After the game, Browner was upset when officials ruled a late Calgary on-side kick attempt went out of bounds, hence the league-issued fine.

“He does such a good job on special teams for us,” Hufnagel said of Browner. “He's a very good tackler, very courageous.”

Saskatchewan announced one significant roster addition yesterday, welcoming back import defensive end John Chick from the injured list. Chick fractured the ring finger in his right hand last month after previously missing five games with a torn knee ligament.