Gunzlingr
06-05-2003, 08:07 AM
The San Francisco 49ers once believed J.J. Stokes could be the heir to Jerry Rice.
Now, Stokes soon could be competing with Frank Rice, among others, in an effort to kick-start his once-promising career.
He is scheduled for a get-acquainted meeting Friday with Denver Broncos officials after being released Monday by the Niners, who saved $2.25 million in salary-cap space in the process.
The talented but underachieving receiver is making the Broncos the first stop on his free-agent tour. Denver has the money to sign him, too, having opened up $4.9 million in salary-cap space with the release of quarterback Brian Griese this week, though about $3.8 million of that is earmarked by the team for signing rookies.
In Denver, Stokes wouldn't appear to fit in as much more than the No. 4 receiver, a spot where Frank Rice, rookie Adrian Madise, Chris Cole and Herb Haygood are among the hopefuls.
But there is plenty of upside to Stokes, even though he has shown only flashes of the form that made him the 10th overall pick in the 1995 NFL draft.
He's only 30 years old and is experienced, yet not run into the ground. At 6-feet-4, 225 pounds, he has prototypical size for a wideout. And with the Broncos' Rod Smith (33 years old) and Ed McCaffrey (35 next month) getting up in years by pro football standards - and both having endured serious injuries in recent seasons - Stokes could serve as a valuable insurance policy, along with second-year pro Ashley Lelie.
more (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/article/0,1299,DRMN_17_2012424,00.html)
Now, Stokes soon could be competing with Frank Rice, among others, in an effort to kick-start his once-promising career.
He is scheduled for a get-acquainted meeting Friday with Denver Broncos officials after being released Monday by the Niners, who saved $2.25 million in salary-cap space in the process.
The talented but underachieving receiver is making the Broncos the first stop on his free-agent tour. Denver has the money to sign him, too, having opened up $4.9 million in salary-cap space with the release of quarterback Brian Griese this week, though about $3.8 million of that is earmarked by the team for signing rookies.
In Denver, Stokes wouldn't appear to fit in as much more than the No. 4 receiver, a spot where Frank Rice, rookie Adrian Madise, Chris Cole and Herb Haygood are among the hopefuls.
But there is plenty of upside to Stokes, even though he has shown only flashes of the form that made him the 10th overall pick in the 1995 NFL draft.
He's only 30 years old and is experienced, yet not run into the ground. At 6-feet-4, 225 pounds, he has prototypical size for a wideout. And with the Broncos' Rod Smith (33 years old) and Ed McCaffrey (35 next month) getting up in years by pro football standards - and both having endured serious injuries in recent seasons - Stokes could serve as a valuable insurance policy, along with second-year pro Ashley Lelie.
more (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/article/0,1299,DRMN_17_2012424,00.html)