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06-10-2009, 11:19 PM
Publish Date: 6/9/2009
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Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley pulls in a pass during practice Monday at
the Broncos’ training facility in Englewood. Stokley was a key part of Mike
Shanahan’s offense, and now he has to learn a new book of plays under Josh
McDaniels. Ed Andrieski/AP
After pondering future, Stokley excited about game
By Brian Howell
© 2009 Longmont Times-Call
ENGLEWOOD — Shortly after the 2008 season, Brandon Stokley pondered
whether his football career should continue.
In 10 NFL seasons, he’s gained a reputation as a top possession receiver.
He’s also dealt with more than his share of injuries, including 10 concussions,
a torn Achilles’ tendon and various knee, ankle and foot ailments.
Add that to the fact that, at 32 years old, he would have to learn a new
playbook and the Denver Broncos’ veteran receiver had to consider his future.
“Yeah, (retirement) crept in my mind,” he said Monday after the Broncos
concluded a practice during their passing camp. “When you deal with the
concussions and then everything else changes, there was a thought, ‘Do I
really want to do it?’”
The more he pondered his future without football, the more Stokley realized
there was nothing more he wants than to be on the field again this fall.
“What else am I going to do right now?,” he said. “I still have passion for the
game and I still enjoy it. I don’t want to ever leave too early.”
In his 10 years, he’s compiled 288 catches for 3,992 yards. Since the start of
the 2004 season, when he played for the Indianapolis Colts, 74.8 percent of
Stokley’s catches (154 of 206) have resulted in first downs, solidifying his
reputation.
First-year Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has coached against Stokley
frequently and has always respected what Stokley brought to the game.
“He’s been a pain in the butt from afar, really, from when we were playing
against him in Indy and we had an opportunity to play against him when he
was here,” McDaniels said. “He’s always been one of the best third-down
receivers in the league, in terms of just getting open past the sticks and
converting and keeping the offense on the field.”
In two seasons with the Broncos, Stokley was a key part of Mike Shanahan’s
offense and a valuable target for young quarterback Jay Cutler.
Shanahan was fired after last season, however. Then, Cutler and McDaniels
saw their relationship crumble quickly, to the point that Cutler was traded to
Chicago.
Now Stokley, who will turn 33 on June 23, is having to learn a new offense
and get used to another new quarterback.
“It’s never fun to learn a new offense, but it’s taught me a lot,” Stokley said.
Stokley has turned the situation into a positive. Although he didn’t want to
learn a new offense at his age, he’s excited about it.
“It keeps you on your toes, it keeps you fresh, so I’ve actually enjoyed it,” he
said. “It’s been really a lot of fun for me. I kind of feel refreshed again and
right now I feel like I could play another five or six years. Change is good.
When I left Indy and came here, it was good for me. I got re-energized and
re-focused in my career. I kind of feel the same way right now.”
Stokley hopes he can use that new energy to still be a productive member of
the team. Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal figure to be the top two receivers
this fall. New addition Jabar Gaffney, who was signed after playing for
McDaniels in New England, also figures to play a key role.
McDaniels believes Stokley will play a big role, too.
“In our offense, we use a lot of three-receiver sets and some four-receiver
sets,” McDaniels said. “Brandon certainly is a veteran player that has done a
lot of great things in this league and fits really well into our system — what
we do and what he’s going to do in it.
“He should play a big role in our offense, and not just necessarily on third
down. He can play on first and second down, in the red zone, two-minute. I’m
excited for Brandon to fill that role.”
At this stage of his career, Stokley isn’t worried about his ability to find a key
role on the team.
“If you go out there and make plays and do good things for the team, they’ll
keep you around,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think (I could play).
I’m not going to stick around just to watch other people play. I plan on
playing a big part on this team and winning a lot of games.”
http://www.timescall.com/sports_story.asp?id=16505
-----
http://www.timescall.com/Assets/newspics/060909s2a.jpg
Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley pulls in a pass during practice Monday at
the Broncos’ training facility in Englewood. Stokley was a key part of Mike
Shanahan’s offense, and now he has to learn a new book of plays under Josh
McDaniels. Ed Andrieski/AP
After pondering future, Stokley excited about game
By Brian Howell
© 2009 Longmont Times-Call
ENGLEWOOD — Shortly after the 2008 season, Brandon Stokley pondered
whether his football career should continue.
In 10 NFL seasons, he’s gained a reputation as a top possession receiver.
He’s also dealt with more than his share of injuries, including 10 concussions,
a torn Achilles’ tendon and various knee, ankle and foot ailments.
Add that to the fact that, at 32 years old, he would have to learn a new
playbook and the Denver Broncos’ veteran receiver had to consider his future.
“Yeah, (retirement) crept in my mind,” he said Monday after the Broncos
concluded a practice during their passing camp. “When you deal with the
concussions and then everything else changes, there was a thought, ‘Do I
really want to do it?’”
The more he pondered his future without football, the more Stokley realized
there was nothing more he wants than to be on the field again this fall.
“What else am I going to do right now?,” he said. “I still have passion for the
game and I still enjoy it. I don’t want to ever leave too early.”
In his 10 years, he’s compiled 288 catches for 3,992 yards. Since the start of
the 2004 season, when he played for the Indianapolis Colts, 74.8 percent of
Stokley’s catches (154 of 206) have resulted in first downs, solidifying his
reputation.
First-year Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has coached against Stokley
frequently and has always respected what Stokley brought to the game.
“He’s been a pain in the butt from afar, really, from when we were playing
against him in Indy and we had an opportunity to play against him when he
was here,” McDaniels said. “He’s always been one of the best third-down
receivers in the league, in terms of just getting open past the sticks and
converting and keeping the offense on the field.”
In two seasons with the Broncos, Stokley was a key part of Mike Shanahan’s
offense and a valuable target for young quarterback Jay Cutler.
Shanahan was fired after last season, however. Then, Cutler and McDaniels
saw their relationship crumble quickly, to the point that Cutler was traded to
Chicago.
Now Stokley, who will turn 33 on June 23, is having to learn a new offense
and get used to another new quarterback.
“It’s never fun to learn a new offense, but it’s taught me a lot,” Stokley said.
Stokley has turned the situation into a positive. Although he didn’t want to
learn a new offense at his age, he’s excited about it.
“It keeps you on your toes, it keeps you fresh, so I’ve actually enjoyed it,” he
said. “It’s been really a lot of fun for me. I kind of feel refreshed again and
right now I feel like I could play another five or six years. Change is good.
When I left Indy and came here, it was good for me. I got re-energized and
re-focused in my career. I kind of feel the same way right now.”
Stokley hopes he can use that new energy to still be a productive member of
the team. Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal figure to be the top two receivers
this fall. New addition Jabar Gaffney, who was signed after playing for
McDaniels in New England, also figures to play a key role.
McDaniels believes Stokley will play a big role, too.
“In our offense, we use a lot of three-receiver sets and some four-receiver
sets,” McDaniels said. “Brandon certainly is a veteran player that has done a
lot of great things in this league and fits really well into our system — what
we do and what he’s going to do in it.
“He should play a big role in our offense, and not just necessarily on third
down. He can play on first and second down, in the red zone, two-minute. I’m
excited for Brandon to fill that role.”
At this stage of his career, Stokley isn’t worried about his ability to find a key
role on the team.
“If you go out there and make plays and do good things for the team, they’ll
keep you around,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think (I could play).
I’m not going to stick around just to watch other people play. I plan on
playing a big part on this team and winning a lot of games.”
http://www.timescall.com/sports_story.asp?id=16505
-----