INDIANAPOLIS—Brandon Stokley helped Peyton Manning set a record and had a hand in the Colts’ Super Bowl run.
His reward: Getting booed when he returned to Indianapolis on Sunday.
Stokley, who was released in a cost-cutting move in March, signed with the Denver Broncos and came back to RCA Dome for the first time Sunday. It was not a warm reception for one of the Colts’ previous fan favorites, and some Colts players were stunned by the response.
“It was weird, I didn’t really understand it,” Colts receiver Aaron Moorehead said Monday. “I know he wasn’t too happy about it, either.”
Stokley, who had been Manning’s roommate at training camp the last couple of years caught two passes for 20 yards and drew boos on each one—the cascade growing louder after the second catch.
The Colts (4-0) are getting accustomed to the parade of ex-teammates. Already this year they’ve faced cornerback Jason David, now with New Orleans; linebacker David Thornton, cornerback Nick Harper and defensive tackle Corey Simon, all with Tennessee; safety Von Hutchins of Houston; and Stokley. This week, they contend with former Pro Bowl linebacker Cato June, now with Tampa Bay.
All but Hutchins and Thornton were with the Colts last season although Simon was placed on the non-football injury/illness list and did not receive a Super Bowl ring.
Stokley may have been more heartened when fans cheered during a video tribute to him near the end of the game. But by then, the fans had already let Stokley know what their thoughts.
“He wanted to stay here and they cut him,” Moorehead said. “And when they put that tribute up to him at the end of the game, they cheered. It was just strange.”
Coach Tony Dungy said it’s part of the challenge visitors typically face on the road.
“I guess when you’re the visitor you always anticipate getting booed,” Dungy said. “I thought I’d get booed in Tampa. It’s nothing personal, you’re just on the other team.”
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CLOSE CALL: The last time the Colts faced Tampa, it was a history-making comeback—one that almost didn’t happen.
With the Colts trailing by 21 points with four minutes left in regulation, Dungy turned to offensive coordinator Tom Moore and suggested taking Manning out.
“I was about 10 seconds away from pulling Peyton,” Dungy said. “I had told Tom we should take Peyton out so he doesn’t get hurt and Tom said, ‘Let’s see where we get on this kickoff.'”
Then-Colts returner Brad Pyatt responded with the most timely play of his short career—a 90-yard return to the Tampa Bay 12. That got Manning a reprieve and four plays later, James Mungro scored on a 3-yard run to start the rally.
Indianapolis then recovered an onside kick and Manning needed only 1:08 to hook up with Marvin Harrison for a 28-yard TD. And after forcing a punt, Manning again took the Colts down the field, capping the drive with a 1-yard TD run from Ricky Williams with 35 seconds left.
Kicker Mike Vanderjagt won the game in overtime, only after the Bucs drew a penalty for leaping at the first kick, which Vanderjagt missed.
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FAVRE’S RECORD: On Sunday, Green Bay’s Brett Favre broke the NFL’s record for touchdown passes—a record Manning may one day own himself.
Manning, the Super Bowl MVP and two-time league MVP, has the highest touchdown pass per game average in NFL history (1.91) and many around the Colts think that record may one day belong to their franchise quarterback.
“I think he will break it if he stays healthy,” Dungy said. “I think that’s the key. Brett has stayed healthy the whole time and Peyton’s going to throw a touchdown and a half or two per game if he stays healthy. I wouldn’t see his pace slowing down unless he gets hurt.”
In fact, Manning, now 31, is already closing in on some big names. His 283 TD passes ranks seventh in league history and needs eight more to pass Colts quarterback John Unitas for sixth all-time. Warren Moon is fifth with 291 and by the end of the season, Manning could pass John Elway’s mark (300) for fourth.
Only Favre (422), Marino (420) and Fran Tarkenton (342) have thrown more than 300 TD passes.
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QUICK HITS: The Colts have won the last four AFC South titles and find themselves in a familiar position—leading the division. The Colts have been in first place or tied for first place for 82 of the 89 weeks since the division was formed in 2002. … Harrison made one catch for eight yards Sunday, despite playing only a few seconds into the second quarter Sunday, enough to extend his consecutive games streak with a catch to 174. … The Colts have committed the fewest turnovers in the NFL (two) after four weeks and are tied with Dallas for the best turnover margin in the league—plus-seven.
