CALGARY -- Defensive tackle Justin Brown made two starts after joining the Edmonton Eskimos earlier in the season, and they were both against his former club.
Brown knows what it's like in the home locker-room at McMahon Stadium after starting the season with the Stampeders.
But after last night's 24-21 loss in the West semifinal, he could only imagine himself there.
"Obviously they're over there celebrating and they earned it," said Brown, who appeared in three games with the Stamps in his rookie CFL season before being released and picked up by the Eskimos in October.
"I know those guys and they're all good guys. They work hard and they fought hard. We fought hard, but they came out on top."
Both of Brown's starts for the Green and Gold were as a fill-in for starting defensive tackle Eric Taylor.
"It's kind of uncanny how things seem to work out, especially in this business," he said. "It's been exciting just to be on the field and I get to see some of my old teammates."
But there's also some strategy involved bringing in someone who has shared a dressing room with the opposition and has studied their systems from the inside.
"When it comes down to their cadence and some of their plays, I kind of have a feeling for it just from going through practice with them and training camp," said Brown, who said he wouldn't trade his experiences as an Eskimo to be part of the winning side last night.
"Not at all," said the East Central Oklahoma product who had four tackles last night.
"I've been accepted into this family now and this is where I'm at. I'm going to give this team my heart, so that's where it is."
GERRY. MODDEJONGE@SUNMEDIA.CA
