Although the Broncos of the late 2000s were not particularly successful and are better known for a controversial Mike Shanahan-to-Josh McDaniels transition, one player’s extension agreement 13 years ago today helped lead to some higher-profile NFL moments.
The Broncos signed Brandon Stokley to a one-year deal in the spring of 2007, adding the former Colts standout as part of their post-Rod Smith receiving corps. On Dec. 8, 2007, Stokley agreed to terms on a three-year extension to stay in Denver. This ended up paying dividends down the road.
Stokley ruptured an Achilles’ tendon late in the Colts’ Super Bowl-winning 2006 season, leading the team to release its slot receiver in March of ’07. Stokley had been part of the past four explosive Indianapolis offenses. This included a 2004 season that featured Peyton Manning breaking Dan Marino‘s touchdown pass record — on a throw to Stokley — and his veteran slot staple joining Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne in surpassing 1,000 receiving yards.
Stokley recovered from this injury quickly and amassed more than 1,100 yards in Shanahan’s final two Broncos seasons, but he was less productive under McDaniels. That said, the veteran wideout’s first catch in McDaniels’ offense produced one of the unlikeliest endings in NFL history (and set the table for a signature Gus Johnson call). Stokley’s 87-yard, game-winning touchdown off a deflection gave the Broncos a final-seconds victory over the Bengals in Week 1 of the 2009 season. Denver started 6-0 that season.
Although the Broncos ended up releasing Stokley in September 2010, his Colorado relocation played a part in one of the free agency era’s biggest transactions.
After seasons with the Seahawks and Giants in 2010 and ’11, Stokley circled back to Denver in 2012. This came after the Colorado resident helped recruit Manning and worked out with the future Hall of Fame passer during his Denver free agency visit. When the Broncos landed Manning, they brought back Stokley on a one-year agreement soon after. Despite being 36 in 2012, Stokley re-emerged with a 544-yard, five-TD season — which ended with a 13-3 Broncos record and Manning’s QB-record sixth first-team All-Pro honor — and added a touchdown reception in Denver’s divisional-round loss.
The Broncos did not bring back Stokley in 2013, having signed Wes Welker ahead of a record-setting offensive season. The 15-year veteran finished his career back in Baltimore that season. But Stokley played a part in some key developments for the Broncos this century.
Heh, I was quite literally thinking of that Stokely yesterday on a purely random note. Certain guys are just blips on the radar for most fans but had a crucial role in the background for certain teams that they end up remembered for. Stokely might be the epitome of that player all time.
Him and Steve Breaston are somewhat important receivers to remember because they ended up being 1000 yard receivers as tertiary targets for the 2004 Colts and 2008 Cardinals respectively. Stokley, along with Michael Thomas of Jacksonville, are also known for hauling in crazy game-winning hail mary attempts- each one called by Gus Johnson
Good names! To me, those may be the best moments in football-when the non-star player who has been reliable in the background makes a game-saving play or crucial grab/tackle just because it was his job. I think it’s doubly special for fans of that franchise because it’s a moment almost exclusive to them alone. Stokely wasn’t Demaryius Thomas or Von Miller or Marvin Harrison. No fans of other teams would ever buy his jersey (not that it’s a Broncosor Colts top seller, but there might be a few). But fans of those teams remember the clutch moments in games that others wouldn’t. Players like that sometimes end up more beloved than the stars.
For your Steelers, there have been more than a few. As for me, Vance McDonald’s list of just destructive stiff-arms come to mind recently.
IIRC Stokely won 2 or 3 rings, plus several pretty damn good seasons along the way.