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Former Football: Stokley to Redskins; Delhomme cut

Bruce Brown, Daily Advertiser, July 28, 2011

It could be one more day in the sun for one, a possible end of the line for another.

Jake Delhomme and Brandon Stokley, once a feared pass-catch combination for UL’s Ragin’ Cajuns in 1995 and 1996, face different fates as the NFL resumes player deals in the wake of labor peace announced on Monday.

Stokley has agreed to terms on a one-year deal that will reunite him with coach Mike Shanahan in Washington after spending the 2010 season with the Seattle Seahawks, according to league sources in touch with Stokley’s agent Rick Smith.

It will be the fifth team for Stokley, UL’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches, after previous stops with Baltimore, Indianapolis, Denver and Seattle.

Delhomme, however, has been told by the Cleveland Browns that he will be released once teams can announce moves today. Delhomme joined the Browns in 2010 after quarterbacking Carolina from 2003 to 2009 and leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl after the 2003 season.

The 36-year-old Teurlings Catholic product, who still lives in Breaux Bridge, was on the New Orleans Saints roster from 1998-2002 before signing with the Panthers.

Scheduled to make $5.4 million this season, Delhomme saw his 2010 season ended by injury after four games as the Browns turned to Colt McCoy as their starter of the future. Releasing Delhomme will free up $2.3 million under the salary cap for Cleveland.

Delhomme has hit 1,723-of-2,904 NFL passes for 20,764 yards and 125 touchdowns, while suffering 101 interceptions. He remains UL’s career passing leader with 9,216 yards and 64 touchdowns, leading the Cajuns to records of 8-3, 6-5 and 6-5, and to a 29-22 upset of No. 25 Texas A&M in a 5-6 season in 1996.

Shanahan once called Stokley the best slot receiver in the NFL when he coached the ex-Cajun in 2007 and 2008 in Denver. Stokley, who turned 35 last month, now becomes the 14th receiver on the Washington roster.

The Redskins also signed Dante Stallworth and acquired Jabbar Gaffney from Denver.

Comeaux High product Stokley, the son of former UL coach Nelson Stokley, caught 31 passes for 354 yards in 11 games in 2010. He also caught four passes for 73 yards and a 45-yard touchdown in the Seahawks’ 41-36 upset of the Saints in the playoffs.

Stokley caught a 38-yard touchdown in Baltimore’s 34-7 Super Bowl victory over the New York Giants following the 2000 season, and also has a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 2006 Colts.

Stokley has 338 receptions for 4,673 yards and 34 touchdowns in his NFL career. His best season was 2004 in Indianapolis when he caught 68 passes for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns, including an NFL record-setting 49th TD of the season thrown by Peyton Manning.

As a Ragin’ Cajun, Stokley caught 241 passes for 3,702 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging 100 yards receiving per game.