Da notes …
If you can’t lose to ’em, join ’em.
That’s what Brandon Stokley did, signing with the Broncos after injuries ruined his four-year run with the Colts.
You remember the Colts. The Broncos lost to them in the playoffs after the 2003 and 2004 seasons. And I use the term “lost” lightly. The Titanic had smoother sailing.
Stokley was a member of those Colts teams that beat the Broncos 41-10 – thanks in part to his 31- and 87-yard touchdown catches – and 49-24. The combined halftime score of the two games? Try 66-6.
Yes, says Stokley, it’s a strange feeling landing with the Broncos after landing on the Broncos.
“It’s kind of odd now being on the other side,” Stokley said. “I’m a friend now, not an enemy. It just kind of worked out that way. We always respected the Broncos, but I think we caught them on the right days in the playoffs.”
Stokley in 2004 caught 68 passes for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns, joining Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne in the first 1,000-10 trio in NFL history. These days, he’s pushing 31 and trying to revive his career after an Achilles tendon tear that ended his 2006 season after four games.
“I’m approaching this like it’s my last shot at this deal,” he said. “I’m putting all my eggs in one basket. I’ll give it a shot and we’ll see what happens.” …
Stokley, on life with Peyton Manning: “It’s not a bad gig. You have to be on top of your stuff because he’s so demanding. But if you’re on top of your stuff, and you do the right things, you know you’ll get the ball. You know he’ll put it in the right position.” …
You knew it was coming, so here goes: Break up the Rockies! …
What’s that? No, I’m not going to check back with you in August. I’ll be covering football by then, as I always do after the Rox fall out of contention. …
Aaron Cook, four wins in his past five starts. I only mention it because he had four W’s in his previous 23 starts, despite having what ex-Rockies GM Bob Gebhard once described as 20-game-winner stuff. …
Jeff Francis will finish May with a microscopic 2.23 ERA for the month. Now for the interesting part: It isn’t the best month of his career, not even close. He had a 1.85 ERA in July 2006. Add in his 2.23 for this month and Francis has three of the top 10 monthly ERAs in franchise history. He went 2.30 in September 2004. …
The best monthly ERA in Rox history? That would be Shawn Chacon, 1.04 in April 2003. Also on the Top 10 list, believe it or not: Denny Neagle, 2.04 in August 2002; and Mike Hampton, 2.45 in May 2001, when he made the National League all-star team. …
Garrett Atkins, by the wrong numbers: One year after hitting .329, dude has a .295 on-base percentage. Look for that to change by the end of this homestand. …
Holy pre-nup! Word out of Hollywood is that the lovely, talented and lovely Eva Longoria and Desperate Househusband-to-be Tony Parker are spending $15,000 on their wedding cake. …
Memo to investigators in the Michael Vick case: Follow the meal money. These are pit bulls we’re talking about. They can scarf down a White Castle burger faster than you can say Ron Mexico. …
Dontrelle Willis, talking to reporters after buzzing Jon Lieber following Lieber’s plunking of Aaron Boone: “I returned the e-mail.” …
So Michelle Wie is going to play in yet another John Deere Classic. Hey, don’t ask me. Maybe she’s hoping to sink a hole-in-one so she can win a tractor. …
Third place, here we come!: Roger Clemens, ready to join the Yanks’ rotation after an impressive tuneup in Triple A. …
And finally, happy 35th birthday to Manny Ramirez. That’s 35 of our years, of course. Not sure about Planet Man Ram.
Jim Armstrong can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
