By Brandon Stokley on Reuniting with Peyton Manning: “It doesn’t take us long to get back on the same page. It’s been a blast from the past.”
June 5, 2012 – 8:00 am by Steven Cuce
Brandon Stokley doesn’t feel like he’s done playing football at a high level. The veteran wide receiver is just trying to look for that opportunity to play somewhere and live the NFL dream for one more season. The Denver Broncos answered that call.
Stokley, who is entering his 13th NFL season, helped in the process of steering Peyton Manning towards Denver. Stokley is looking to become No.18′s favorite target this season. The news cycle from OTA’s can be mostly overblown, but Broncos fans are hoping that the connection that they are seeing from Manning-to-Stokley in OTA’s will be seen every Sunday this fall.
Brandon Stokley joined KKFN in Denver with The Drive to discuss entering his 13th season in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, mentoring the younger wide receivers in OTA’s, being a part of the process to recruit Peyton Manning, dealing with rookie players not showing up to OTA’s and his prior relationship with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis already paying dividends in Denver.
How are you able to play at a high level at your age?
“I still think I am pretty fast. I don’t know. Like I said I still think I can run pretty fast and pretty good. Just show little moves here and there that I picked up along the way helps out.”
Do you share your tricks of the trade with the young guys at camp that are competing for your job?
“Sure. I mean I try to share as much as I can with those guys. I don’t think…I don’t look at is as it’s going to hurt my chances of making the team. I think a lot of older guys have helped me along the way and I’ve learned a lot from those guys, so if I can help any of the younger guys out with anything, technique or route running. I am more than happy to share that information.”
You were part of the process of recruiting Peyton Manning to come to Denver. How do you feel with the organization trusting you so much and your ability?
“Yeah without a doubt. I wanted to prove that I could still play and that’s this whole process of OTA’s. That’s what I am trying to do through OTA’s is showing them hey I can still play at almost 36 years of age and that’s help this team win ball games. It’s only the first step and it’s a long process that comes with training camp and the preseason games. This is just the first step and that’s what I am trying to do.”
What happens with players who don’t show up to OTA’s? As a veteran what is your take? How does the locker room take it?
“I think everybody realizes it’s a business and certain guys may not be there for different reasons and that’s just how it is. I think everybody has their own personal stuff in the offseason and may not want to show up. Guys I think know that the NFL is a business and they understand that and I think from my perspective that’s the way I look at it. I try to worry about myself. If other people decide not to show up I can’t do anything about that. You would like for everybody to be there. I think we have really good numbers at ours and I think around the league for the most part you are going to see in the 90% of guys showing up.”
You caught a few goal line touchdowns at OTA’s and it just seemed like you and Peyton Manning were on the same page. Is that due to your prior relationship in Indianapolis and he has a feel for where you will be?
“Well we have been doing it a lot longer than other guys. It doesn’t take us long to get back on the same page. I know what he likes. I know what he wants. For me it’s been a blast from the past. I am having fun and like you said in those two plays it was kind of like six years ago. It’s definitely helped that I’ve had a relationship with him in Indy for four years and I practiced with him a lot. I am trying to continue to build off that.”
Listen to Brandon Stokley on KKFN in Denver here [Interview begins at the 20:00 mark of the podcast]
Tags: Brandon Stokley, Denver Broncos, KKFN in Denver, NFL, The Drive
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