Back in March, the constant gushing by free-agent receiver Brandon Stokley regarding free-agent quarterback Peyton Manning seemed more than a little incredible, especially since the prior months consisted of gloom and doom coming from a Colts franchise that surely would have preferred Manning to play neither for them nor for anyone else.
Now that both men play for the Broncos, Stokley’s words after the team’s first practice in pads seem more consistent with reality.
“To me, he looks great,” Stokley told the media on Saturday. “I said that when I was working out with him six months ago. . . .
“He looks like he’s just gotten better and better. He looks normal. That’s kind of not even a topic of discussion with us anymore.”
Coach John Fox was more succinct, but no less glowing. “Excellent,” Fox said of Manning. “The guy comes to work every day, whether it’s in that building or on that field, he attacks it like no other.”
Last year, the 8-8 Broncos made it to the final eight with Tim Tebow. This year, with the team basically the same and Tebow swapped out for one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, there’s a chance that on the first Sunday in February Colts owner Jim Irsay will be tweeting the blues from under his bed.