Ricky Proehl's agent said the veteran receiver signed Monday with the Indianapolis Colts, who have been without Brandon Stokley for most of the season.
The 38-year-old Proehl agreed to a one-year deal that would be prorated on a US$1.2 million base salary, his agent Alan Herman said.
The Colts made no announcement about the signing, and coach Tony Dungy said earlier Monday that the team was talking with Proehl. Herman declined to elaborate on the negotiations.
``(Proehl) brings a veteran guy who's been in these December and January big games,'' Dungy said. ``A slot receiver who knows how to get open and make tough catches. I think he'd fit into what we're doing.''
The Colts are fresh off their best performance of the season, a 45-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.
But it might have come at a cost. Tight end Dallas Clark appeared to seriously injure his right knee after catching a pass in the first half.
Clark was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday. Dungy said although there has been speculation that Clark tore his anterior cruciate ligament, he could not confirm that before the test.
Stokley has played in just two games, most recently Oct. 8 against Tennessee, when he sprained his left knee. The Colts keep hoping he will return, and Dungy said Monday he thought Stokley could practice this week.
Proehl has played in 242 games during a 16-year career, including stops in Arizona, St. Louis, Chicago, Seattle and most recently, the Carolina Panthers. He was part of the Rams and Panthers Super Bowl squads.
The former Wake Forest receiver has caught 666 passes for 8,898 yards and 54 touchdowns, including 25 receptions for 441 yards and four TDs last year with the Panthers. He worked out for the Colts on Oct. 12 but wasn't signed.
Proehl's 30-yard TD catch with 4:44 to go in the 2000 NFC championship game gave St. Louis an 11-6 win over the Dungy-coached Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sending the Rams to the Super Bowl.
``As I told him when he was here earlier in the fall, he's taken a lot a money from me,'' Dungy said. ``So I know what's he capable of.''
© The Canadian Press, 2007
