Inability to hook Plummer is not gentle on Gruden's mind

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

David Zalubowski / Associated Press/2007

Jake Plummer headed out the door after announcing his retirement from the Broncos in March 2007, and he rebuffed all attempts by Jon Gruden to get him to play for the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, head shaking, scowl forming, now can lump himself with various flailing defensive ends who already know his pain.

Because, try as he might, no matter his words, deeds or frequent-flier miles, Gruden just couldn't catch Jake Plummer, either.

"I would love to coach Jake Plummer at some point in my life because I think he's a great competitor," Gruden said Wednesday at the NFL's annual meetings. "It's disappointing, and I'm disappointed it didn't work out."

And, technically speaking, the Buccaneers do currently have six quarterbacks under contract.

There's Jeff Garcia, who represented the Buccaneers at the Pro Bowl last season. There is Brian Griese, a former Broncos starter, and Chris Simms, a former Tampa Bay starter.

There's Luke McCown. There's Bruce Gradkowski.

And there is Jake Plummer.

"I think still he's one of the top quarterbacks on the planet," Gruden said. "I think his performance, his won-loss record speaks for itself. . . . I mean, nothing's official until it's official, papers signed, turned in. Or he has a press conference or whatever.

"But it might be hard to find him for the press conference. Hard to find him, man, hard to get those wires up there to get the lighting or whatever."

That it is. A globe-trotting, handball-playing, happy and healthy Plummer has settled in Sandpoint, Idaho, a resort town of about 7,000 roughly an hour south of the Canadian border.

Settled, as in married to former Broncos cheerleader Kollette Klassen and not coming back to the NFL's bright lights.

"I've called, I've written, I've gone to see him," Gruden said. "I did everything I could. But I think that's it."

The Buccaneers acquired Plummer from the Broncos in two trades in March 2007.

First, with Jay Cutler having started the Denver's last five games of the 2006 season and Plummer still wanting to be a starter, the teams worked a trade that called for the Broncos to receive a fourth-round pick in the 2007 draft for the veteran quarterback. But Plummer quickly retired after learning of the trade.

The teams then went back to the negotiating table and worked out a second deal.

It called for the Broncos to get a fourth-round pick in this month's draft if Plummer reported to the Buccaneers or any other team before April 26, the first day of this year's draft. Or, if the Buccaneers couldn't lure Plummer back, the Broncos would receive a seventh-round pick in this year's draft.

"We traded a seventh-round draft choice, basically for Jake Plummer," Gruden said. "And unfortunately he decided to stay in retirement."

There still are money matters to all of this.

As an incentive for the Buccaneers to make the trade, the Broncos dealt the right to recoup some bonus money - about $7 million worth - Plummer had received from Denver. And the Buccaneers have filed a grievance - the Broncos were added in as a clerical move in the unlikely event the trade is nullified when the grievance is settled - to try to get some, or all, of that money.

Almost a year ago, in one of his last Denver appearances that produced comments for consumption, Plummer promised "there will not be a jersey that has an NFL patch . . . on my body."

Gruden admitted that "I guess I finally believe that now."

And, at the end of the month, the Broncos gladly will use a seventh-round pick to add a player to their roster. The Buccaneers will not, having lost the pick in the swerving wake of a contented, and retired, Plummer.

"We did (talk), we have talked, we have certainly tried," Gruden said. "But it's over now. I hate to keep talking about it, keep stirring it up. We tried. We have tried."

• April 2, 2008

  9:30 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Spidey writes:

  That shows Plummer is a big time LOSER! He put letter "L" on his forehead after he retired with a big whine!

• April 2, 2008

  9:56 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  filmjay2k writes:

  Spidey, you're an a.s.s. Jake, you did us all proud as a Bronco, wish you got to the big game in 05. Go enjoy life, and good for you . . .

• April 2, 2008

  10:08 p.m.

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  Brockage writes:

  Too bad the Broncos didn't draft guys who could protect him. He has to scramble way too much. If he'd have had more than half a second to set up, his completions would have dazzled us all. Still hope he changes his mind and goes with J Gruden.

• April 3, 2008

  1 a.m.

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  RockyV writes:

  Jakes lack of class is probably what got him in trouble. His flipping off fans and what not - he was immature and too temperamental.

• April 3, 2008

  1:41 a.m.

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  dirkle writes:

  Jake was far from perfect, but imo he was better than the majority of the quarterbacks in the league at that time, despite his occasional poor decision-making in the clutch (doh!)

  But Jake Plummer gave it everything he had, led the Broncos to lots of good wins, including going 13-3 in 2005 and beating the Patriots in the playoffs. And how he survived all those years in Arizona I'll never know.

  In the end, Snake had both the sack and the class to walk away with his pride, skills, and health.
  Sticking to his guns and not copping out to the Bucs for buck$ proves it.

  Hats of to the Jakester. Enjoy your retirement, dude. Lets go fishin'

• April 3, 2008

  3:25 a.m.

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  Horvil_Tiki writes:

  I will not missing "dude where my car" snake man. He ok but throw ball up like he don't care at end. Get ints. Get pict when don't care game no more, throw up in air and see what happens=pict.

• April 3, 2008

  3:30 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Horvil_Tiki writes:

  Guy, I will not missing "dude where my car" snake man. He ok but throw ball up like don't care at end. Get ints. Get pict when don't care game no more, throw up in air and see what happen=pict. O line dont mater for where car snake man, guy cant throw from pocket. Guy throw on run, propeller only on run good.

• April 3, 2008

  3:34 a.m.

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  LarryB writes:

  Good for you, Jake. You chose life over football. You have your head squarely on your shoulders, and you know what you want. I'm proud of you.

• April 3, 2008

  5 a.m.

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  Bronco6 writes:

  Talk about beating a dead horse,it's OVER! Take the 7th pick and run with it....GOOOOO BRONCOS !!!!!

• April 3, 2008

  7:28 a.m.

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  hdfresh writes:

  I would have retired too if I was Plummer. He knew deep in his heart that he would never be as good with any other team than he was with the Broncos. He had a great win-loss ratio here in Denver, especially in the '05 season. I don't think Tampa Bay would have been a good fit for him.

• April 3, 2008

  8:05 a.m.

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  UncleBuck writes:

  Jake had the protection but unfortunately he could not take advantage by throwing a good deep ball. Now they have a qb that can throw the deep ball but the line does not give him time to let the receivers get downfield. Getting Nalen and Hamilton back will help but will not solve the problem entirely.

  filmjay2k, sorry but I was not proud of jake when he flipped off the fans, got into arguments on the sideline and went into hiding in fear he may have to play football again. There is no competitive fire in that guy which was apparent his last year on the team.

• April 3, 2008

  8:33 a.m.

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  Spidey writes:

  filmjay2k... call me an ass all you wanna Hear me out for a bit

  I first watched Jake when he played for Arizona State against Ohio State in Rose Bowl. I cheered for Buckeyes but I was very impressed with how Jake played and made the game close. Especially he did beat Nebraska back in 1996 season.

  When Broncos played against Arizona Cardinals on final game of the 2002 Season--fans were cheering for Jake to sign with Broncos despite they blew away Cardinals 37-7. That's what I was looking forward to have Jake on Broncos team.

  Anyway, after Jake's poor performance and not getting along with Shanahan and they had to start Cutler instead. I'd love to have Jake as back-up and not many teams have excellent back-up quarterbacks. Jake decided to be SELFISH (for wanting to be starter and not fully help team) and went for quick exit from NFL, leaving unfinished business behind. That's what it made me peeved. The Snake? nah... call him The WORM! So there!

• April 3, 2008

  8:39 a.m.

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  BroncoDan writes:

  Gruden, MOVE ON, dude!!! Jake's happily retired in Montana with his cheerleader wife! Go Jake!

• April 3, 2008

  8:52 a.m.

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  cmcray1 writes:

  too bad he is gone. he was better than elway or cutler

• April 3, 2008

  9:14 a.m.

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  incognitoboy writes:

  cmcray1-

  pull your head out, man. there's no evidence that jake was better than elway. only time will show cutler to be superior, but the early evidence says 'jay all the way', and soon. plummer had some great moments, but it was too easy to get in his head and get him to make terrible mistakes.

  sure loved his competitive fire while it was hot, though.....too bad the 'hot' was so often in his head.

• April 3, 2008

  9:19 a.m.

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  peachy0301 writes:

  Jake could solve all of this by just turning in his paperwork saying he's retired. Until he does that the issue is still open. Teams will still try. I liked Jake when he was here and wish him well, but - man just sign the papers!

• April 3, 2008

  9:43 a.m.

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  cutlerscrew writes:

  actually jakes place is 32 miles from montana

• April 3, 2008

  9:51 a.m.

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  kmeissner writes:

  Horvil_Tiki... are you brain-damaged? None of that makes any sense.

• April 3, 2008

  9:52 a.m.

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  jackt writes:

  It's a football game that he won most of the time. I'm glad he flipped people off. I bet he's glad not to be hanging around meatheads anymore. hot chick, Idaho mountains, and leisure sports. Word.

• April 3, 2008

  12:53 p.m.

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  Spider writes:

  I think hdfresh is on the right track. Look at the years he spent with Arizona (do they even have Cardinals in AZ?). Jake is a competitor and being on a sub 500 team probably was eating at him big time. He comes to the Broncos and all of a sudden he's winning at nearly a 70% clip, why would he want to go to any team that is going to be hovering at .500 again?

  Damn HOF committee! The blew another one! Since Plummer is better than Elway and if he doesn't make the HOF in his first five years it means that the HOF enshrined an inferior QB. If Plummer never makes it to the HOF there is no hope of Cutler making it because he's not as good as Plummer. I say disband the HOF committee and close the doors to the NFL Hall of Fame!!!!

• April 3, 2008

  2:40 p.m.

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  cmcray1 writes:

  incognito. Are you on drugs? Jake was a way better quarterback than Elway. Did you watch those superbowls? it was all Terrel davis. Elway had the helicopter play and the drive, nothing more. Snake was the bomb, dude.

• April 3, 2008

  2:47 p.m.

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  alpheratz9 writes:

  As far as girl fans go, sigh . Damn that Jake was something gorgeous to look at. We miss him - he was one of the coolest sports figures we ever had in Denver. I liked his attitude and his rebellious nature- he was a great leader on the field and I really respect his work with Alzheimers and kids. He donated a lot of money to the community and that is rarely mentioned. I'm glad he's living a happy life away from football. If you loved him or hated him, he sure was exciting to watch! He brought BRONCOMANIA back with a vengenance in 2004-2005. He was a Tom-Brady killer - and that Divisional win over the Patriots should go down in Broncos History as one of the coolest victories ever. This town was rockin in 2005. I miss the Jake beard too. Remember that website - the Jake Petition www.petitiononline.com/Plummer/petition.html for the porn-stache? That was awesome. You were a sexy thing Jake. We all miss ya!!!

• April 3, 2008

  3:03 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  SmokinRox writes:

  "Posted by Horvil_Tiki on April 3, 2008 at 3:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
  Guy, I will not missing "dude where my car" snake man. He ok but throw ball up like don't care at end. Get ints. Get pict when don't care game no more, throw up in air and see what happen=pict. O line dont mater for where car snake man, guy cant throw from pocket. Guy throw on run, propeller only on run good."

  What the F???

• April 3, 2008

  3:12 p.m.

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  bushmaster writes:

  he's got money and is enjoying life from what i read...why come back to the NFL grind?

• April 3, 2008

  3:42 p.m.

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  champ24girl writes:

  hey!! we'll miss you Jake, you were a FUN QB to watch, and hot. :-)

• April 3, 2008

  11:10 p.m.

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  DENVERJOE7 writes:

  WHO CARES ABOUT JAKE PLUMMER, I'M SO GLAD HE'S GONE

• April 6, 2008

  9:23 a.m.

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  ShepDog writes:

  cmcray1 = raiders fan