Stokley signs with Denver

[coltsfan]

Don't understand this one. He looks like the #4 receiver there with Walker, Smith, and Marshall.

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/10033511

The Denver Broncos reached agreement on a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Brandon Stokely. The 30-year-old Stokely also visited the New Orleans Saints but opted for the Broncos. Stokely is coming off a torn achilles, but he is expected to be ready for training camp.

 

[patsox23]

Nice signing, if healthy. Broncos are making some nice moves this off-season.

 

[Elway]

Don't understand this one. He looks like the #4 receiver there with Walker, Smith, and Marshall.

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/10033511

The Denver Broncos reached agreement on a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Brandon Stokely. The 30-year-old Stokely also visited the New Orleans Saints but opted for the Broncos. Stokely is coming off a torn achilles, but he is expected to be ready for training camp.

Smith had off-season surgery so it's not a lock that he is the #3 receiver.

 

[Gumby]

What to understand?

Maybe, he wants another trophy.

He looks around and Dolts are on decline; Pats have filled up the wr portion of the bench and he sees the only other teams with a legitimate shot as probably Denver or San Diego (but with the turbulent coaching situation who knows). So he goes to Denver.

Notice it is only a 1 year deal; so he keeps his long term options open and maybe no team wanted to give him a hi $ long term deal due to his injury until he proves he is over it.

 

[coltsfan]

Smith had off-season surgery so it's not a lock that he is the #3 receiver.

I'd trust Rod Smith to fight through injuries more than Stokley.

On second thought, it makes some sense because it won't be that big of a hit for the Broncos if Stokley gets hurt due to the depth there.

I'll be interested to see how much they are paying him.

 

[marty]

Good move for Denver. Giving the rookie QB plenty of vet weapons.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

What to understand?

Maybe, he wants another trophy.

He looks around and Dolts are on decline; Pats have filled up the wr portion of the bench and he sees the only other teams with a legitimate shot as probably Denver or San Diego (but with the turbulent coaching situation who knows). So he goes to Denver.

Notice it is only a 1 year deal; so he keeps his long term options open and maybe no team wanted to give him a hi $ long term deal due to his injury until he proves he is over it.

The Colts are in decline? You could have said that about the Patriots after they released Lawyer Milloy and then lost to Buffalo 31 - 0 back in '03. Wrongo. I wouldn't be so smug.

 

[the taildragger]

aw, Peyton lost his roomy. Wonder who else on the team he'll pick up to keep him company on the road.

I mean there's nothing wrong with that...he claims it was strictly platonic.

BS is a nice little player, but the WRs are the key to their system....ever wonder how Dallas Clark and Stokley used to just run for about fifty yards untouched up the middle of the field....it's like a landing strip on an aircraft carrier.

 

[workhorse]

MB it's because the Broncos hven't had much success against the Colts in recent years and want to pick Stokely's brain.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Well, I guess the Colts are getting the full championship ride... what it feels like to hoist a Lombardi, what if feels like when every player gets targeted in Free Agency...

We remember it, the ups and the downs. Time to see them attempt to go past "one year wonder" status.

PFnV

 

[coltsfan]

Well, I guess the Colts are getting the full championship ride... what it feels like to hoist a Lombardi, what if feels like when every player gets targeted in Free Agency...

We remember it, the ups and the downs. Time to see them attempt to go past "one year wonder" status.

PFnV

I'm not sure how much of it really has to do with the Superbowl. The Colts have lost free agents every year, and the losses last year are bigger than this year.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Yeah, pretty much the same with the Pats, losing em every year... you did okay waving goodbye to Edge.

On the other hand, a cumulative effect is not out of the question.

PFnV

 

[coltsfan]

Yeah, pretty much the same with the Pats, losing em every year... you did okay waving goodbye to Edge.

On the other hand, a cumulative effect is not out of the question.

PFnV

Yeah, I agree. The Colts will need a good draft this year, and may need to pick up a veteran free agent or two. But I'm not ready to panic yet b/c there's 4 months to go before training camp!

 

[Tucker]

there's 4 months to go before training camp!

UGH... 4months? why cant it be next month? I want it to be september already!

 

[PatsFan24]

Denver is gonna be a real SB contender in 07.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I don't see Denver competing for the SB. I think we always have an inflated view of Denver in NE fandom because they've "got our number." Other teams don't find them as scary to start with, so their improvements don't put them in "SB" territory in most minds. The big 3 are still SD, NE, Indy.

 

[coltsfan]

I don't see Denver competing for the SB. I think we always have an inflated view of Denver in NE fandom because they've "got our number." Other teams don't find them as scary to start with, so their improvements don't put them in "SB" territory in most minds. The big 3 are still SD, NE, Indy.

Agree about the inflated view of Denver here. This team couldn't even beat the 9ers at home in the season finale with a playoff spot on the line. Until Cutler shows me something, I rate Cincy and Pittsburgh over them as well.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I don't see Denver competing for the SB. I think we always have an inflated view of Denver in NE fandom because they've "got our number." Other teams don't find them as scary to start with, so their improvements don't put them in "SB" territory in most minds. The big 3 are still SD, NE, Indy.

I don't agree. After BB the coach I have the most respect for is Shanahan - and I think BB would probably agree.

Denver's moves in the offseason thanks in part to their available cap space have generally been very good, though I think they overpaid bigtime for Graham - and you can't have too much depth in March so signing Stokey is a good move as well.

Denver is nearly always a playoff contender and will be again. They don't "scare" me but I do prefer homefield advantage over playing at Denver if it comes to it.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Agree about the inflated view of Denver here. This team couldn't even beat the 9ers at home in the season finale with a playoff spot on the line. Until Cutler shows me something, I rate Cincy and Pittsburgh over them as well.

I completely agree. I respect the talent on their team but the simple fact is the Denver defense completely collapsed in the 2nd half of the season. Their was no fight in that team whatsoever and that is a reflection of the Head Coach and his assistants. Honestly, I think Shanahan's free pass for what he did for the organization in the late 90's is starting to wear thin. If he can't get them deep in the playoffs this coming season I can see him coming under fire in a big way.

 

[SamBam39]

I gotta say though, Travis Henry is gonna be better than Tatum Bell, so there better there.

Adding Dre Bly at the other corner, to an already unreal Champ Bailey? That's gonna really make their defense tough.

Daniel Graham, while yes, he's getting more money than he appears to be worth, nonetheless will add another nice weapon to their offense.

Adding Stokley just gives them yet another veteran talent that can contribute.

And Cutler was considered a stud prospect, that everyone said was a 'can't miss' and many rated above some of the other bigger names Like Leinart.
Most rookie QB's don't come in and just take over, they usually need a little time and seasoning. Carson Palmer didn't even play his first year for quite awhile - sam with Phillip Rivers. So don't sleep on Cutler developing into a star. And remember, they recently added Javon Walker who is a major talent.

They have the coach. They have the QB. They have the running back. They have the receiver. They have a good and improving defense. What's not to like? They always draft well, so I expect them to add more there.

I expect their biggest challenge to be dealing with the loss of Darrent Williams, who was shot and killed, but I think adding Dre Bly was the perfect move to kind of diminish that loss, at least from a talent perspective.

Yeah, I'd say, you guys might be underestimating a little what Shanny's doing over there in the thin air of the rockies.