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| Stokley returns to Denver, this time to rejoin Manning. (Getty Images) |
Brandon Stokley last caught a pass from Peyton Manning in 2006, when both players were members of the Indianapolis Colts. Now the two good friends have again been reunited on the football field: the Broncos signed the wide receiver to a one-year deal Monday.
Stokley, who, like Manning will be 36 when the 2012 season begins, last played in the NFL in September 2011 with the Giants. In addition to stops in Indy and New York, the former fourth-round pick out of Louisiana-Lafayette also played in Baltimore, Seattle and Denver, where he's best remembered for this game-winning catch against the Bengals from Week 1 of the 2009 season.
Manning has had Denver-area throwing sessions with Stokley in recent months and made it clear that he'd welcome him to the team. "Any time that management wants to add good football players to this team, I'm all in favor of it," Manning said via CBSSports.com Rapid Reporter Andrew Mason.
Third-year Broncos wideout Eric Decker added that Stokley's "a savvy veteran, he's been around the league a while, so I can learn a lot from a guy like that."
Last week in a radio interview, Decker said that he'd been impressed with Manning. "The guy's still throwing the ball a long time, throwing it great, hitting you in the right spot," he said. "He's such a perfectionist. If he hits you in the belly button, he gets mad at himself for not hitting you in the chest. It's unbelievable to be around a guy who has those standards for himself."
Stokley made his NFL living as a slot receiver, a role he'll likely reprise in Denver. The Broncos had previously added tight end Jacob Tamme, a former Manning teammate in Indy, and Dallas Clark is still available.
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