Pro. Brandon Stokley

[NewsCopy]

Stokley picks right time to shine

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Wide receiver Brandon Stokley wants a second Super Bowl ring, and his play is starting to reflect that.

Stokley, who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens three years ago, has emerged as one of Peyton Manning’s favorite targets in the last month. That has forced opponents to defend another weapon in the Indianapolis Colts’ already-potent offense.

“Nobody’s looking for me,” said Stokley, who remains the University of Louisiana’s career receiving leader (241-3,702-25).

Defenses typically focus on stopping receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, tight end Marcus Pollard and running back Edgerrin James.

Given Stokley’s performance in the Colts’ 41-10 victory over Denver on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) might have to make some changes for Sunday’s second-round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium.

He burned Denver’s secondary for 144 yards — the first 100-yard game of his career — and scored twice. One of the TDs came on an 87-yard reception, making it the longest pass play in the Colts’ postseason history.

The rest of the story

The Associated Press

[Turbine]

Lets Geaux Brandon after playing in only 3 of the Colts first 13 games, all that matters is playing in the last three games of the 2003-04 post season.

With the Ragin' Cajuns, Lady Cajuns, and Jake all winning. . . we need a Brandon win for a QUADRUPLE WEEKEND.

[NewsCopy]

For 13 games, Brandon Stokley was an afterthought. In the Indianapolis Colts' past four games, Stokley has been a revelation.
It wasn't a good start or a likely destination, but when the Colts play the Kansas City Chiefs today in an AFC semifinal, Stokley will command serious attention. On a team that features Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne and Marcus Pollard as primary targets, the former Ravens receiver has become another scintillating option in Peyton Manning's passing game.

All Stokley had to do was overcome a lingering foot injury, a shoulder ailment and a concussion. And, oh yes, win Manning's favor.

"This offense provides so many opportunities if you can just gain Peyton's trust," Stokley said last week. "And I'm taking advantage of them. You've got to step up and make plays."

For most of the season, he couldn't get onto the field because of physical problems. He played in just three of the team's first 13 games and totaled five catches for 44 yards.

In the past four games, he's had 21 catches for 311 yards (a 14.8 average catch) and five touchdowns. In last week's wild-card romp over the Denver Broncos, he had four receptions for 144 yards with touchdowns of 31 and 87 yards.

"What you have seen from Brandon is what you probably would have seen all season if he had been healthy," Manning said. "It has been frustrating for him and also for us, because we have wanted to get him out on the field and show everybody what he could do."

Stokley, 27, left the Ravens in free agency last offseason ("I wanted to stay. I loved that organization, but they didn't make a big push for me to stay."). He has a Super Bowl touchdown on his resume, and he'd like to go back for more.

"I tell these guys it's an unbelievable feeling [to play in the Super Bowl]," he said. "You've got to be there and feel it."

The source of the story

SunSpot.net
Ken Murray -- On the NFL

[Turbine]

Great TD catch by brandon to start the game

[Turbine]

How about that!!!

Brandon in the AFC Title game for the second time in his career.

[RaisingCajun08]

I think the Colts have as good of a chance as any to go to the Super Bowl and win. There offense is unstoppable right now. Payton Manning is shreading the opposing defense.

Did any hear during the game what the anouncers were saying about Manning? Last we he broke down the last 10 games that the Chiefs played. And he had the other QBs break down the rest. Manning knew every defense that that the Chiefs ran all year. He is a true student of the game. Payton is one of the very few that you see looking at pictures of the defensive formations during the game. His hard work is paying off.

[1stTake]

Hey it was a quintuplicate weekend. The Lady Cajuns won again.

[NewsCopy]

Jake Delhomme and Brandon Stokley, one of the great pass-and-catch tandems in the history of UL-Louisiana football, are on a possible collision course to be opponents in the Feb. 1 Super Bowl.

Delhomme is the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, who play the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC championship Sunday. Stokley is a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, who play the New England Patriots Sunday for the AFC title.

Nelson Stokley, Brandon's father, coached them both at ULL. Jake played for the Cajuns from 1993-96, and Brandon played from '95-98. They still head the list as season and career passing and receiving leaders at ULL.

Brandon and Jake have done well with new teams this season after becoming free agents following last season. Stokley left Baltimore, where he played the last four seasons, including the Ravens' Super Bowl championship year three seasons ago. Delhomme left the Saints, where he had been a backup quarterback for six seasons.

Delhomme toiled in relative obscurity for the Saints, but Nelson Stokley said he knew his former player had the ability to be a star, if given the opportunity.

"I know the type person he is, that he always worked extremely hard and he had some ability," said the elder Stokley. "Of course, you need ability to be in the NFL, but, more than that, he had a presence about himself.

"When he was a freshman, we tried to redshirt him because he was only about 165 pounds, and we felt he needed a year to grow," Stokley went on, "but after that first game when we tried three quarterbacks and none worked, we tried him."

Delhomme, a native of Lafayette, won the job and held it for four years. He led the Ragin' Cajuns to winning seasons his last three years and finished his college career as the all-time Louisiana college passing leader.

The rest of the story

Bob Tompkins / Staff Reporter/Columnist
btompkins@thetowntalk.com
The Town Talk

[NewsCopy]

It’s a family thing.

Make that an extended family.

Sunday’s AFC and NFC championship games feature three of the best football players ever to come out of local high schools.

New England running back Kevin Faulk remains the standard by which Carencro High stars are measured.

Indianapolis wide receiver Brandon Stokley was a Comeaux standout.

Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme put Teurlings Catholic on the map.

Delhomme and Stokley also played together for two record-setting years at UL Lafayette.

Stokley and Faulk have already earned Super Bowl rings.

Is it Jake’s turn this year?

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

QUINCY, Mass. (AP) — Indianapolis wide receiver Brandon Stokley arrived near Boston with his teammates Saturday, four days after his infant son was hospitalized with an undisclosed illness.

Players and team officials were cordoned off from reporters in the team’s hotel lobby and did not take questions.

Colts coach Tony Dungy didn’t know until Friday whether Stokley would play today in New England.

Stokley’s son, Cameron, is ill with meningitis — a potentially fatal inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.

Stokley, who has three touchdown catches in the Colts’ two playoff victories, missed practice Wednesday, returned for about half of the two-hour practice Thursday afternoon and worked out with his teammates Friday.

Dungy had said he would let Stokley decide whether to play, explaining that family matters took precedence. The Colts also have been working on contingency plans in case Stokley has to return to Indianapolis quickly if his son’s condition worsens.

If Stokley does not play today, Troy Walters would fill in.

Stokley signed a few autographs and acknowledged the few dozen onlookers in the team’s lobby.

Stokley’s wife, Lana, gave birth to their son Dec. 16.

The rest of the story