Pro. Brandon Stokley

[RedCajun]

_ _

Two Lafayette natives as the Bronco's starting receivers....not bad.

[NewsCopy]

Good thing Stokley is ahead of schedule eight months after Achilles' tendon surgery.

With 13th-year franchise receptions leader Rod Smith coming off hip surgery that figures to sideline him for the season's first six games, Stokley, 31, is Cutler's most experienced eyes and hands on a talented young receiving corps.

"It's little things Brandon's helping Jay with," assistant head coach/quarterbacks Mike Heimerdinger says. "He's a great communicator and as good a route runner as I've ever seen. When we get our receivers healthy, we have a pretty good group."

The source of the story

[RaginFan2]

Cool! Looks like he's wearing #14 again! I kind of liked him #83 though, since that was my number in HS (way back in the leather helmet days ). LOL! My dad used to joke that he played when you could fold up your helmet and put it in your back pocket. HA! But he DID start playing in the pre-facemask days. That musta hurt!

[NewsCopy]

Brandon Stokley Portrait by Cyrus McCrimmon

[NewsCopy]

Born on June 23, 1976, Brandon is the youngest of three children raised by Nelson and Jane Stokley. His father was the head coach at Southwestern Louisiana, now University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where Brandon played four years - the first two with quarterback Jake Delhomme. While in college, Brandon met his future wife, Lana, a two-time All-America left fielder in softball who led Southwestern Louisiana to two College World Series. They have two sons, Cameron, who turns 4 in December, and Carson, 18 months. Klis: Not many NFL players didn't play football during their sophomore and junior years in high school, but this was the case with you. What happened? Stokley: I played my seventh- and eighth-grade year and my freshman year I played quarterback. I was small. A small guy who didn't have a very good arm. I enjoyed basketball and baseball a lot more. Klis: If size was a problem, I assume you were a point guard. And I always assume athletes who played baseball were shortstops. Stokley: Point guard in basketball, shortstop in baseball. So I just decided to concentrate on those two sports. But then we wound up getting a new football coach in high school and he asked me to try out for receiver because he put in a new spread offense. I'd been around football all my life, so I knew how to run routes. Klis: So how small were you when you made your decision to skip football? Stokley: Going into my sophomore year, I remember because I got my driver's license and I was 5-foot-4, 115 pounds. Klis: So you knew enough about football to know 5-4, 115 wasn't going to cut it. The rest of the story By Mike Klis Denver Post Staff Writer

[NewsCopy]

Coming off a career-threatening injury, the veteran wide receiver has been a pleasant surprise to the Broncos - as well as to himself. Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley is considered a possession receiver but remains a downfield threat, as he proved on this 58-yard reception against the Raiders last Sunday. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)Brandon Stokley stretched the field Sunday, breezing past one Oakland Raiders defender after another on his way to a 58-yard reception. Not bad for a guy perceived as a possession receiver. Not bad for a guy who hasn't started regularly in about half a decade. Not bad for a guy who earlier this year had serious doubts he'd be able to play again. "I hate the fact that we're 5-7, but I am having so much fun playing," Stokley said this week. "When something is taken away from you and you don't know if you'll get it back, it is a scary thing. I didn't know if I'd get this back. To have it again, you really appreciate it." The Broncos appreciate Stokley, for whom they didn't have great expectations when they signed him as a free agent in March. Stokley was signed to a low-risk deal. If he could be the reliable No. 3 receiver he was with Baltimore and Indianapolis, Denver would be happy. Stokley's career was in jeopardy last December when he ruptured his Achilles tendon. He had surgery and physicians were hoping for a full recovery, but Stokley was realistic. His body was breaking down last year, and he didn't feel he played particularly well during the short time he was healthy. He was turning 31 in June, and he knew after Indianapolis released him he'd be far from attractive on the open market. Looking for a veteran hand because Rod Smith was out with a hip injury, the Broncos took a chance. "It couldn't have worked out better," Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist said. "Brandon has been a big part of our team." The rest of the story By Bill Williamson The Denver Post 303-954-1262 bwilliamson@denverpost.com

[RaginFan2]

Nothing Ragin' Cajun fans didn't already know! Way to go, Brandon!

[NewsCopy]

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos signed wide receiver Brandon Stokley to a three-year contract extension on Saturday. Stokley, who injured his knee in last week's loss to Oakland and hadn't practice until Friday, is expected to play against Kansas City on Sunday. Stokley stepped into the starting lineup this season after Javon Walker suffered a knee injury. He's caught 39 passes for 614 yards and four touchdowns. Stokley, a nine-year veteran, ruptured his right Achilles' tendon last December, leading to his offseason release from the Indianapolis Colts. He had surgery and rehabbed in Denver after signing with the Broncos on March 22. The rest of the story

[AboveAverage]

Good for Brandon, now he can start "SWAGGIN"

I heard his first down percentage on receptions out of this world.

[NewsCopy]

DENVER - Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley stretched the field last Sunday, breezing past one Oakland Raiders defender after another on his way to a 58-yard reception. Not bad for a guy perceived as a possession receiver. Not bad for a guy who hasn't started regularly in about half a decade. Not bad for a guy who earlier this year had serious doubts he'd ever be able to run a single route again. ''I hate the fact that we're 5-7, but I am having so much fun playing,'' Stokley said this week. ''When something is taken away from you and you don't know if you'll get it back, it is a scary thing. I didn't know if I'd get this back. To have it again, you really appreciate it.'' The Broncos appreciate Stokley, who has recovered from an injury to become a valuable injury replacement for Javon Walker. The Broncos didn't have great expectations for Stokley when they signed him fairly late in free agency in March. Stokley was signed to a low-risk deal. If he could be the reliable No. 3 receiver he was with Baltimore and Indianapolis, Denver would be happy. Stokley's career was in jeopardy last December when he ruptured his Achilles' tendon. He had surgery and physicians were hoping for a full recovery, but Stokley was realistic. His body was breaking down last year, and he didn't feel he played particularly well during the short time he was healthy. He was turning 31 in June, and he knew after Indianapolis released him, he'd be far from attractive on the open market. Looking for a veteran hand because Rod Smith was out with a hip injury, the Broncos took a chance. ''It couldn't have worked out better,'' Denver general manager Ted Sundquist said. ''Brandon has been a big part of our team, and he proved to be a very good pickup.'' Stokley, who sat out his second consecutive practice Thursday with a knee strain, has been one of the Broncos' most valuable players. He has caught 39 passes for 614 yards and four touchdowns. Stokley, who spent his first four seasons with the Ravens, enjoyed his best season in 2004 as the Colts' No. 3 receiver. He caught 68 passes for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns. This is his second-best season since joining the league in 1999 as a fourth-round pick from Southwestern Louisiana. The rest of the story By Bill Williamson The Denver Post