Former Broncos QB Jake Plummer Continues To Do Things His Way
by John Bena on Feb 9, 2011 6:14 PM MST
in Denver Broncos in the News
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Every year about this time, the name Jake Plummer is brought back out of the closet of our football minds. It's always around the Super Bowl that I think about Plummer. Sometimes I will write about him - the 39-15 record he compiled as the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos - sometimes I don't. Each year that goes by, Plummer last played in 2006, is another year that a possible comeback is, and it was a longshot the day Plummer decided to call it a day.
This year, Sports Illustrated did the writing for me. I am always fascinated by the stories that have come about about Plummer, Mike Shanahan and the Broncos of 2005 and 2006. Stefan Fatsis' book A Few Seconds Of Panic goes into great detail about the time because he was there, around the players, as an author-turned-kicker doing research for the book. In a lot of ways it was the height of Mike Shanahan's pompous attitude. When other teams would say no to such a request - to open their locker room and training camp to such a microscope, Shanahan and the Broncos allowed it.
The SI piece is worth the time it takes to read all 8 pages. While my motivation for this is the article, what comes out will be my memories of Plummer, and what has transpired since then. We all know, so I won't go into great detail of the losses, the switch, and the last 3 years of complete misery.
My first memories of Plummer come from his college days. He led Arizona State to the Rose Bowl against Ohio State in 1997. In fact, had ASU beat the Buckeyes that day there was a good chance that the Sun Devils would have won a share of the National Championship. Think about that for a second - Arizona State has this close to winning a college football National Championship. Much of that was on the arm of Plummer who could do it all - make all the throws, run, avoid defenders, and - most importantly - win. I once heard someone call Plummer the greatest quarterback to ever come out of the PAC-10, and I believe it.
Perhaps even more amazing than taking the Sun Devils to the cusp of a National Championship was making the Arizona Cardinals relevant again. Coming in with all the pressure of a home-town hero - and playing NFL games in the same stadium he won so many games in - Plummer struggled at times as a Pro quarterback, but he once again showed the flair for the dramatic, and he won a playoff game for the Cardinals - in Dallas - beating Hall of Famer Troy Aikman and Emmett Smith in their building.
I remember thinking at the time that Plummer had the talent to be one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. While I believe he loved football, I think there were some things about the game he did not love. Studying, preparation, game-plans, etc. To Plummer, the fun of football was playing on Sunday. It was his greatest attribute, but perhaps his greatest curse as well. I mean, to me, Plummer could easily have been as successful as Donovan McNabb, even moreso.
Plummer came to the Broncos, and won like no one ever had as the starting quarterback. Even now, that 39-15 record is among the best in team history. There were good times and bad - flipping off the crowd during a game, frequent battles with the NFL over uniform infractions. The death of Pat Tillman in 2004 had sent Plummer even further away from the business part of football. Plummer and Tillman were teammates at ASU and with the Cardinals. His death had a huge impact on Plummer. In a lot of ways, Plummer realized football was just a game and thinking anything more was a bit ridiculous. Who can blame him?
The pinnacle came in 2005 when the Broncos went 13-3 and became the first team to beat the Brady/Belichick Patriots in the playoffs. The Broncos were one step away from the Super Bowl. The Pittsburgh Steelers, of course, had other plans. They beat the Broncos, and in doing so killed Mike Shanahan's trust in Plummer. I believe it was killed further by Shanahan's time at the Pro Bowl with Peyton Manning. Shanny saw how Manning approached the game, and I believe at that moment he wanted to replace Plummer, putting the wheels in motion for the Broncos to trade up and select Jay Cutler. That pick alienated Plummer and Shanahan even further.
Something else happened as well. Gary Kubiak, offensive coordinator of the Broncos - and Plummer's buffer from Shanahan - became the head coach of the Houston Texans. Prior to the 2005 season, Kubiak and Plummer had gone over every snap of the 2004 season, breaking down Plummer's game and for the first time getting Plummer to commit to football after the season. The result was perhaps Plummer's finest season - perhaps not statistically, but in terms of wins, and interceptions - Plummer cut his INT total from 20 in 2004 to just 7 in 2005. With Kubiak gone, the relationship between Shanahan and Plummer was a ticking time-bomb.
We all know what happened in 2006. The Broncos drafted Cutler, there was an instant quarterback controversy, the Broncos started the season 7-4, Cutler replaced Plummer, the Broncos went 2-3 down the stretch and missed the playoffs - beginning a streak of playoff-less seasons that now stand at 5 years, the longest the Broncos have seen since the 1970's.
Plummer did have his shot, in the season finale against the San Francisco 49'ers, when Jay Cutler was injured. Plummer, who had already decided to retire, did little to prepare for the game. When he entered, however, he wanted to win it - not for his coach, but for himself. I take you to the SI article:
"I was like, Man, this is a blast," he says. "I didn't study the game plan, I didn't have a clue what was going on."
So how can you blame Plummer for doing what he did next—for going out on the field and trying to win the damn thing? "I just went for broke," Plummer says. "I remember Mike Bell went down for like a 60-yard play. And the first guy to pick him up was me. I was running alongside him. I was so psyched. I was running around, shouting at the other team, 'Jake the F------ Snake is back!'"
Parsons remembers the electricity, the stirrings of another Plummer comeback. "And he was doing it by basically saying f--- you to the coach," says Parsons. "Which is something all players wish they could do but no one has the guts to."
With a chance to extend the Broncos' 3--0 lead, Plummer says, "I rolled out to my left, made a guy miss and was like, Ah, there goes Javon Walker, and I just heaved a Hail Mary." Plummer pauses. "And he trips, and the safety intercepts it."
With that, the magic was bottled. Shanahan put Cutler back in, but not before trying to chastise Plummer, who walked past, ignoring his coach. Quarterbacks coach Pat McPherson then walked over. "Gosh, you just really can't make that throw," he told Plummer. And that's how Plummer's football career ended, some would say fittingly: with a desperation pass picked off.
So ended Jake Plummer's career as a Denver Broncos quarterback - and as a player in the NFL. So began the complete destruction of the Denver Broncos. People can choose when they want the downturn of the Broncos to begin - depending on how they feel about certain players or coaches - but for me, that game was it. Later that night Darrent Williams is killed outside a nightclub in Denver. A few months later Damien Nash collapsed and died after a charity basketball game. The losses piled up. You get the idea.
Through it all, Jake Plummer never returned. He was still able - at 32 years of age, Plummer was in the best shape of his life. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen, traded for Plummer's rights and tried to talk Plummer into coming back. They even offered a $1 million donation to Plummer's Alzheimers Foundation. Still, with $5.3 million in salary on the table, and a $1 million donation pending, Plummer stayed away. You have to admire someone who stuck to his principles, regardless of the money.
So now Plummer resides in northern Idaho, playing competitive hand-ball. I have no doubt that Plummer could wake up tomorrow and play quarterback in the NFL. That's Jake Plummer - just out him on the field and he'll mke something happen. Just don't try to control him, don't try to mold him, don't try and tell him how important football is. Pat Tillman - that's what is important and that is what life and death is all about.
Jake Plummer is and always will be one of my favorite players. There is little doubt the Broncos haven't had a leader in the locker room at quarterback - since John Elway, of course, prior to Plummer's arrival and since his departure. Perhaps Tim Tebow will grow to become that. One thing is for sure - winning has something to do with it.
Head over and read the article. It's great and really gets inside the head of Plummer - the man. I doubt Plummer is surfing the web, or if he reads fan blogs. If, for some reason he does, or someone that knows him does, I just want to send him a long overdue thanks for everything he did for the Denver Broncos - all the wins that we took for granted - and for the community.
Thanks Jake!
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Jake Plummer
is the reason I stuck out watching our team through the post Elway Era. I was PISSED when the benched him. I have always held that against Shanny and kind of unfairly Jay. I still support the Team but to ME that was the day I stopped supporting the Players. It takes a hell of a lot for me to get behind a guy now because as the Plummer Saga shows, you’re only here as long as the Coach thinks you are!
Dear Santa- All I want for Christmas is a Stud NT and David Harris- Thank you!
Davis and Sharpe to the Hall!
"Teamwork divides the task and double the success."
- Unknown
Same here
I’ll take Jake the Snake over Jay the interception machine any day
"It's all over fat man!"
-Tom Jackson
ditto
I may skank around and visit my other favorite teams' SBNation blogs, but I always come home to www.stlouisgametime.com and my beloved St Louis Blues.
Also...St. Louis Cardinals. Denver Broncos. Univ of Denver Hockey and Lacrosse. Colorado Mammoth and Colorado Outlaws Lacrosse.
by HockeyHippie on Feb 9, 2011 10:50 PM MST up reply actions
What can i say about the snake
He was by far one of my favorites and I wish he would of never got the boot.
Me and my humanities professor were talking about this today (He is also a Broncos fan)… But we both agreed the day Plummer was benched was the day the franchise took a shitter to being a mediocre franchise.
but he did tell me he hasn’t been this excited for an upcoming season in awhile. I don’t blame him I too am pumped about next season. Tebow for the win
Mile High Salute
dont quote me on this
but i think cutlers first game after the benching was against seattle and al wilson busted his neck that night. So the benching of jake and losing of our soul on D was the end of our “run at it”
luckily im a bronco and a blazer fan
Agreed Me and Dad had always said getting rid of Plummer was a huge mistake
Denver Broncos, Playoffs are in Sight Sooner than You Think!
we didn’t really get rid of him…just saying
by waterboy31321 on Feb 10, 2011 8:41 AM MST up reply actions
NICK FAIRLEY
Also I tweeted at nick fairley today asking him if he could make the Broncos defense fierce and lead us too a playoff birth next season
and he said back to me He couldn’t guarantee it all he could guarantee is his worth ethic and leadership
i’m big on Patrick Peterson but I’d take Fairley in a heart beat as well
Mile High Salute
of course he is going to say work ethic and leadership…that is his whole PR campaign because that is the biggest knock on the guy…
by waterboy31321 on Feb 10, 2011 8:42 AM MST up reply actions
I always wonder what would have happened if we kept Plummer and not drafted Cutler.
John – you should try to get him on MHR Radio!
I was pissed at that selection
I soooooo wanted Ngata, and Baltimore grabbed him right after our pick.
Owning the Patriots since September 9, 1960
I just love Plummer's attitude.
The Mountain Man beard an the whole persona was perfect for Denver post-Elway. Too bad his career was cut short.
-Harvey J. Neptune
Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.
Pro-Bowl Press Conference:
Interviewer: Do you want to wink to the three teams that cut you and tell them, "I told you so?"
Brandon Lloyd: "No, I want to say, ‘F— you,’ and I mean that in the most professional way."
Um...
I once heard someone call Plummer the greatest quarterback to ever come out of the PAC-10, and I believe it.
John Elway came out of the Pac-10. Just sayin’.
by Broncologist on Feb 9, 2011 6:51 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Good point
"I always believe there's a reason why you go through everything." - John Elway
by Pmoreno95 on Feb 9, 2011 6:57 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
Yes, he did...
And Elway was great, obviously, but as a college player, to get that ASU team to #2 in the country and just minutes from a National Championship, was pretty special…
But please, let’s not turn this into a that type of thing. Elway, to me, was the greatest NFL QB ever…
-TSG
SBNation's Denver Broncos Blogger
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+10000000000000
I've been bleedin' orange and blue since Floyd Little in '71-'72 and will 'til the day I die!
Bring back the Orange Crush!
RANDY GRADISHAR in the HOF!!!!
Yeah man...
That’s a fairly bold statement to be making…Aaron Rodgers, Joey Harrington, Troy Aikman, Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, Drew Bledsoe, and John Elway of course. Those are names that come to mind when we’re talking ‘Greatest Pac-10 QB of all time’ Jake Plummer? Pfft…There’s a reason he was a 2nd round pick…And the majority of those guys were Top-10 picks.
But I digress Plummer was a lot of fun to watch, and it’s slightly depressing to realize how far away this team is from that 13-3 team that lost in the AFC Championship.
by himynameismatt on Feb 9, 2011 7:18 PM MST up reply actions
DId you really just put those names up there?
Plummer could compete with any of those guys. Harrington? Really? Your putting Harrington and Leinart as examples? He was a winner, and I don’t know what you look for in a QB but when I look at the greats such as Aikman and Elway and Rodgers, Manning, Brees, Brady they all have one thing in common. Winning. Plummer was a leader, maybe not with the books and the studying but he was a leader with his heart and with his soul. He bled for himself and those he cared for. I think it’s a bold statement putting Harrington and Leinart as example of “Great QB’s that came out of the PAC-10”. To me that’s just like saying Plummer wasn’t good enough, if anything Shanahan wasn’t good enough for Plummer. But that’s just my opinion like you have yours, my blood boils a little when I hear people doubt Plummers achievements.
Any movement in history which attempts to perpetuate itself, becomes reactionary.
- Marshal Broz Tito
by BosnianBronco on Feb 9, 2011 9:27 PM MST up reply actions
Jake Plummer is one of my favorite players to. So fun to watch.
but he was never the best player in the pac 10.
Good or bad,
watching Jake play was always fun. Can’t say that about the QBs we’ve had since.
Are you serious???
Oh come on….guy had the mentality of Brett Favre with only half the talent.
161-161 TD to INT ratio, 74.6 QB Rating (He was great at TURNOVERS)
The Bronco team he was on was stacked, he was surrounded by talent.
by scruffy_orange_devil on Feb 9, 2011 7:14 PM MST reply actions
39-15 .722 as a starter.
I will take that any day of the week
Floyd Little: HOF Class of 2010.
2009-10 back-to-back NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009-10 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant
If you take his Bronco numbers
He comes out looking much better. I’m not arguing for him as a great NFL QB based on 4 seasons with one team, but in his context as a Bronco he’s not bad. 71/47 TD/INT ratio and an 84.3 passer rating. He definitely improved in Denver
Mariners/D Broncos/BSU Broncos fan in Seattle
The first rule of Lookout Landing is...
by appleshampoo on Feb 9, 2011 11:54 PM MST up reply actions
Did Pat Bowlen break a mirror in 2005?
It seems like the whole organization has been cursed for the past 6 years, which means if you’re superstitious, there’s one more year of bad luck before the curse is finally lifted. The entire D-line was traded away or cut, Al Wilson broke his neck, and Plummer was benched for “Bluejay” Cutler. Enter 6 years of misery since that time, by way of an annual flashy and ineffective offense and a doormat of a defense.
It’s a cryin’ shame what happened between Shannanigan and Plummer. Sure he could’ve studied the playbook more, but a more intelligent coach would’ve taylored the offense around his players’ abilities, including Jake. Look what Andy Reid was able to do with McNabb, who’s also been crtiticized for not being prepared as well.
A little depressing John, but thanks for a good read nonetheless. Rec’d.
"All credibility, all good conscience, all evidence of truth come only from the senses." Friedrich Nietzsche
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." Mark Twain
"If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done." Wittgenstein
Right
and Damien Nash and Kenny McKinley.
"All credibility, all good conscience, all evidence of truth come only from the senses." Friedrich Nietzsche
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." Mark Twain
"If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done." Wittgenstein
Its been a long, sad, downward spiral
since losing the 05 AFC championships and then what happened midway in 06 with the playoffs still within reach
"It's all over fat man!"
-Tom Jackson
I swear Im gonna pistol whip
the next person who says “Shennanigans” lol
"It's all over fat man!"
-Tom Jackson
Ha you're gonna need a lot of pistols!
"All credibility, all good conscience, all evidence of truth come only from the senses." Friedrich Nietzsche
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." Mark Twain
"If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done." Wittgenstein
Whats the name of that restaurant with all the goofy crap on the walls?
Quit drinking the Kool-Aid and start drinking the good stuff, and everything is always alright.
by Chuck "DeadDrunk" Breedlove on Feb 9, 2011 9:24 PM MST up reply actions
Oooooohhhh!
“Put those away!”
Mariners/D Broncos/BSU Broncos fan in Seattle
The first rule of Lookout Landing is...
by appleshampoo on Feb 9, 2011 11:56 PM MST up reply actions
I will always be a fan
of Jake Plummer’s. From the time I hated him when he was at ASU (I was a UA fan) to the time he took that last venture out onto the field, I knew he was special. He loved the game of football, but he hated the business. But—you know what?—he led the Broncos to three straight playoff years, and he remains the only quarterback in the last decade to do so.
I still wear Plummer’s jersey. Out in public. Proudly.
Thank you, John, for this stirring post.
BILLY THOMPSON GOT SHAFTED!!
Best Plummer quote?
“Mike Shannahan can kiss my mother f***ing ass. You can print that.”
The Fatsis book is an amazing read. Lots of good stuff in there like this. Needless to say, Plummer probably feels for McNabb…
J
+2
I've been bleedin' orange and blue since Floyd Little in '71-'72 and will 'til the day I die!
Bring back the Orange Crush!
RANDY GRADISHAR in the HOF!!!!
Shanahan...
Sure did Jake dirty. I loved the Snake. I was sitting directly behind him the day he flipped off the fans. They all deserved it that day. Wish we would have stuck it out with him.
He jerked him around for sure
Always searching for his next Elway was what doomed Shanny. He’s doing it in Washington too, benching McNabb for Sexy Rexy? Seriously?
"It's all over fat man!"
-Tom Jackson
Man I loved watching Jake play. He could be infuriating at times (left handed ints for pick-6), but his style was just fun. I graduated ASU right before that Rose Bowl, and Jake did everything he could to win that game only to have the game lost when he was on the sidelines. Good Jake of Bad Jake, it was never dull with him, and yeah, it was fun because we just won.
Owning the Patriots since September 9, 1960
I miss Jake Plummer and the relevancy he brought to the Broncos.
Ah, sweet regrets.
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The artist formerly known as ZAPPA
Shanny versus Snake?
Is a tough call. You gotta love Shanny’s relentless quest for perfection that brought two titles to Denver yet juxaposed to Snake’s pure childlike fascination with competition no matter what the game. What a great look back into one of the greatest Bronco QB in club history! Question – why did the SI article mention the Tempe club “groping” charge but neglect to mention Mrs. Snake is a former Bronco cheerleader? I found that omission curious…
I found that interesting also
about his wife. On a side note, I see them every now and then, my girlfriend is next door neighbors to the Snakes wife’s parents
"It's all over fat man!"
-Tom Jackson
To me Plummer was a poor mans Brett Favre
He was either fun as hell to watch or fist smashed into wall infuriating. Yet for the good and the bad, he knew how to win a football game. I can understand Shanny being frustrated with Plummer and wanting a Manning or another Elway but why he thought Cutler would be that (work ethic wise) i will never know.
And now for something completely different
John,
Does this mean that the Snake is a lock for your greatest list at #16?
"It's all over fat man!"
-Tom Jackson
Take a step back
Jake Plummer did the bootleg better than anybody. But his talent overall was mediocre. He threw lots of interceptions.
I remember watching his last game — the KC one — and he looked terrible. If that was because of his problems with Shanahan, it still is worth noting that he had people wanting Bradley Van Pelt even when he was the starter.
I really like Jake Plummer as a person, but he was a mediocre QB.
Hey, hasn't Tebow thrown more interceptions...?
Well, left-handed, I mean.
by MakeCents on Feb 9, 2011 8:49 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Do you think Plummer could ever be inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame
He has an above 80 qb rating as a starter for Denver. He was also 39-15 as a starter and is only one of three qbs in team history to lead us to the AFC Championship game.
The more i think about it the more i think the only thing that might keep him out is the fact he wouldn’t give a crap. He might not even show up lol
And now for something completely different
Ah, I miss Jake the Snake.
The naked bootleg deep ball to Rod Smith is a play that I see over and over in my head… and it brings a smile to my face each time.
The ignorant redneck formerly known as kentuckybronco.
Nice article.
I loved watching Jake Plummer play and those bootlegs were too fun to watch. He did nothing but win in Denver and got a bad shake out of it with Shanahan. As others, I wasn’t too happy to see him benched near the end of the ’06 season while we still had a winning record.
Jake was his own person and didn’t suger coat anything. One of the things I respect the most about him is that he walked away from the game on his own terms and never looked back for one second. I tip my hat to him and wish him all the best.
Now we look back at the whole thing and see where Cutler is now and the fact that Shanahan had another QB debacle in Washington. You know Plummer is smiling in Idaho about this.
Thanks for the post John. Plummer has always been one of my favorie Broncos.
Floyd Little: HOF Class of 2010.
2009-10 back-to-back NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009-10 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant
Knowing Jake, he probably has no idea what the NFL is doing,
let alone Shanny. I have a feeling he could care less about the NFL, and I mean that in a good way. It was not the end-all to his life when he played in it and certainly it would not be now.
"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."
by rubincarterrocks on Feb 10, 2011 8:59 AM MST up reply actions
That SF game was the first and only Broncos home game Ive been able to attend
thanks for the memories Jake!
Yes he did.
His rights were traded to the Bucs, but he retired instead.
Floyd Little: HOF Class of 2010.
2009-10 back-to-back NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009-10 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant
I know this is heresy....
but Jake Plummer will always be my favorite Bronco quarterback. Not for how he played the game on the field (although that was a lot of fun, especially here in Denver), but for how he lived life off of it, both then and especially now.
Thanks Jake, hope you’re doin’ well, dude.
I may skank around and visit my other favorite teams' SBNation blogs, but I always come home to www.stlouisgametime.com and my beloved St Louis Blues.
Also...St. Louis Cardinals. Denver Broncos. Univ of Denver Hockey and Lacrosse. Colorado Mammoth and Colorado Outlaws Lacrosse.
Jeez Plummer seems like forever ago
I’m not gonna lie I was one of the people who wanted him out. I saw one too many lefty ints. Was he a winner? Yea and I guess looking back I expected that and more. I think that Steelers game left a sour taste in my mouth. After watching him blow our chance at a super bowl I never forgave him.
But that’s all in the past. He was a hard worker and winner, if we had more Jake Plummer’s we wouldn’t be 4-12, thats for sure
I'm a little bummed that
the article didn’t at least give a sentence to his high school career and stats. Playing for Capital High School in Boise he won 1 state championship and went to one more, lost only by the team’s kicker* missing an extra point. His stats in high school were ridiculous, something like 3000 yards passing and 1500 running (totally pulled those out of my ass, but you get the idea). I guess about what you would expect from a future NFL player in high school.
Anyway, I grew up in Boise so even though there were practically no AZ fans in Boise, we all rooted for him as a hometown guy. Honestly I was a little pissed when we signed him, thinking we just got rid of one QB with great talent and mediocre results (Griese) for another one. But, he definitely improved his skills and reduced his INTs in Denver and I really enjoyed watching a Boise guy on my favorite team. I still have his jersey (just wore it for the Superbowl).
Also, the ’stache was awesome. See my avatar -—————————————→
*Said kicker went to the church I grew up attending in Boise. In fact I saw him over Christmas. I don’t bring it up, of course :).
Mariners/D Broncos/BSU Broncos fan in Seattle
The first rule of Lookout Landing is...
I saw the game where he lost
I went to the school that beat him for the championship. Ever since he brought them back from being down, I’ve always thought that he was going to be good. I admit I was excited to see him go to the Broncos and hoped he would do the same thing there. I was upset over the benching, and seeing how things are now, I don’t blame him for leaving like he did.
And now to other news....
by broncofeistfan on Feb 10, 2011 9:11 AM MST up reply actions
Jake the Snake
You know, my journey with Jake the Snake happened at a time when I had kinda fallen out of following the Broncos on a regular basis. I was in the process of retraining from Infantry to CH-47 crew chief, just moved to Alabama, and was dealing with an ugly divorce. I didn’t really have the time to really be the fan I was before, or now.
When I found out that Jake Plummer was going to sign in Denver, it re-energized me to get back on board with my home team. I thought he was wasting away in Arizona, never really having the talent around him for him to flourish.
When he got us close to the Super Bowl in 2005, I knew we could win it if we just had that one missing piece, you know, the old Shanny company line. But I actually believed it then. That Divisional round game against New England was scintillating. (How that TE ran down Champ is beyond me…but I was in the company of a fine woman at the time, so she helped me get my mind off that question…lol)
When Shanny benched Snake for that punkass kid, I lost my faith in Shanahan. We lost Captain Al, didn’t make the playoffs after being 7-4, we lost 2 young players tragically, and the whole thing has just turned to shit since then.
Thanks for the memories, John. The SI article was a great read, as well.
Long live the Snake!
I'm not your friend, buddy!
He's not your buddy, guy!
I'm not your guy, friend!
PSN ID: Zo-gernaut
Bowlen prefers offensive-minded head coaches. He likes offensive minds because he likes his team to have star power at quarterback. He's not a stout-defense/run-the-ball kind of owner. It's a sound, core philosophy. Football franchises are about winning, first, but they're also about entertainment.
(Klis has his days where he's an idiot, but I liked definition of Mr. Bowlen.)
Plummer is the ultimate retrospective player
Fans liked him when he played, but when Cutler was traded, he was booed at games. The love he gets now is very retroactive, because it wasn’t much there when he started. The only reason he’s liked now is because Cutler didn’t work out. If Cutler was still here and racking up wins, no one would care about Plummer. Love the guy, very fun to watch and listen too, but this lovefest is postmortem, because fans didn’t think so at the time, myself included. Read articles, look at polls, fans wanted Cutler to start. I love Jake, even more now that he’s gone, but there is a reason fans called for Cutler during almost every game during 2006, because fans didn’t think he was flashy enough, as one writer called it, “losing pretty with Cutler is better than winning ugly with Plummer.”
I always like a player with attitude, people say that they don’t like the Ochocinco’s, the Hasselbeck’s, the Farve’s, the Plummer’s, but without these guys, the game wouldn’t be nearly as fun.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
by Topher Doll on Feb 10, 2011 1:34 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
Let me toss my denial in here
I was not a fan of bringing Jake from Arizona. I thought he was too erratic as a QB, threw too many INT’s. He won me over pretty quickly and I (as I have said recently) am not a fan of starting a flashy rookie over a seasoned player. Plummer was doing good things and Shannahan had unrealized expectations.
No, I did not support the move to Cutler and would have fondly remembered Plummer even if we had just won the SuperBowl.
Opinions are like......, Well anyway, this is mine.
I kinda agree with maxwellsdemon
If my memory serves me well, which it doesn’t sometimes, I seem to recall a majority of the fan base and Denver media clamoring for Cutler midway through the ’06 season.
One thing I do remember was despite our defense being insanely good for the first 6 games (some record for least amount of TD’s allowed), our passing offense was nearly as stagnant. Whether that was due to the departure of Kubes, Plummer being affected by looking over his shoulder, or others… who knows. But fans were not happy and were calling for Cutler … whether that was right or wrong is another story.
That being said, I was and still am a big fan of Plummer. I said this before… I’ll say it again. Big RESPECT to a guy who marches to his own tune… the fact that he retired young, healthy, eschewing several million to go to the Bucs, but instead retreated to the hills, got married to some hottie cheerleader, and plays handball competitively is all the more to admire the man.
Thanks for your reply
Plummer is a unique guy, I’ll always respect the guy, and remember some good times he had here.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
I was quite the opposite from the beginning. I loved it when we got him from AZ and i knew he would be succsusfull here.
I actually really disliked Cutler and wasn’t impressed at all when he came in. I was bitter for a very long time and only started coming around when our offense was flying in 09. I don’t know if most people were supportive of cutler coming in but i know I, and a good amount of other Broncos fans wanted Plummer.
by ShyandObese on Feb 10, 2011 11:28 AM MST up reply actions
All I remember was all the articles
The letters to the Denver Post, the cheers at games, the polls, all wanting Cutler to start. Fans were excited about Cutler, there’s nearly endless proof of that, be we discovered, maybe he should have sat a while.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
by Topher Doll on Feb 10, 2011 12:36 PM MST up reply actions
Atleast Jake brought us to the playoffs
damn i miss those days
Downturn
I kind of thought of the down turn was when Al Wilson was hurt, but this was an eye opener. If only plummer could have played on. What if ?
Jake's career
Being from Nampa Idaho,a small town 20 miles west of Boise where Jake grew up I have studied Jake’s career since he was in High School at Capital High. I never dreamed that the scawny kid from Capital would someday lead his team to a whisker of a Rose Bowl win and a win from the Super Bowl for the Broncos in 2005.
The day that it ws announced that Jake Plummer would sign with the Denver Broncos I put up there with the day that John Elway was traded to the Broncos in 83 for excitement. The hometown Idaho boy was now the starting QB for the Denver Broncos! Though I anguished over his picks,including one against Kansas City that was thrown left handed he has competitive spirit in spades that Jay Cutler never had.
A couple of years ago I moved up to Coeur d Alene Idaho and it is a different world up here. The bar that was mentioned in the article where Jake met with Jon Gruden,Capones,is only a few blocks from my house and I have wached many a football game there. Last summer I ran into Jake Plummers Dad( he picked me out because I was wearing Broncos gear and said something like “My son used to play for the Broncos”) and he said that Jake was very happy and they were planning on going on the camping trip that was mentioned in the article. He mentioned that Jake hated Shanahan, because Shanny would not let Jake be the player he wanted o be, but he like McDaniels.I believe that Shanahan ended Jake Plummer’s career as a Denver Bronco because he took all the fun out of the game for him and the NFL refused to allow Jake to honor his friend who gave his life for his country, with stupid fines and regulaations.
I truly believe that Jake Plummer is happy now, and while I have never had the chance to meet him , I hope to someday and I will that him for his time on the gridiron and the thrills that he gave me as a fan. If you believe in karma, the Denver Broncos are receiving it in spades for the way that Jake was treated at the conclusion of his career.
The point
by Charlie Kirkpatrick on Feb 10, 2011 3:06 PM MST reply actions 5 recs
+1
Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks
My ship finally came in, but it was the Kobayashi Maru.
Follow me on Twitter @MHR_KaptainKirk
I went to college in Nampa
Go Coyotes!
Truth be told, I rooted for BSU, but it isn’t like there was really a choice…
Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.
by Jeremy Bolander on Feb 10, 2011 3:48 PM MST up reply actions
Nice read
You can add my thanks in there too ;D
oh, and rec’d
Opinions are like......, Well anyway, this is mine.
playoff game vs steelers
i still contest that it was “fixed” for the steelers to win it all that year. Bettis retiring, winning the super bowl in his hometown. a little too convienent in my opinion. and the terrible officiating in the super bowl.
"Barely a Footnote" -- Pat Tillman & Superbowl XLIII
The marriage of NFL football with the armed forces is not all about glory. It’s about secrets, lies and death, too. During the 2009 Superbowl with Pat Tillman’s team, the Arizona Cardinals, playing the Steelers, he was barely a footnote. Old news. Troublesome for the media and NFL to dwell upon. A bit of an embarrassment. Best ignored.
The top leadership of the Army, Congress, and the Presidency (both Bush and Obama administrations) betrayed the Tillman family by their cover-up of Pat Tillman’s friendly-fire death. The NFL exploited the death of Pat Tillman, yet refused to help the Tillman family in their search for the truth. I guess the NFL figures they’ve put up a statue, had a jersey dedication, paid for the Tillman USO in Afghanistan … time to move on. The NFL has turned Pat Tillman into an lifeless icon, instead of celebrating his iconoclastic nature
I’m still angry the truth about Pat’s life and death has been buried. Tillman was enshrined as an icon while the man fell by the wayside, his family used as props at his funeral. "The truth may be painful, but it’s the truth," his mother said. "If you feel you’re being lied to, you can never put it to rest."
We should honor Pat Tillman’s memory by honoring the man, not the myth. The iconoclast, not the icon. As his mother said, "Pat would have wanted to be remembered as an individual, not as a stock figure or political prop. Pat was a real hero, not what they used him as."
If you want to learn about the real Pat Tillman, see the documentary "The Tillman Story," read Mary Tillman’s book "Boots on the Ground by Dusk" (at blurb.com with preview), Jon Krakauer’s book "Where Men Win Glory" (although flawed bio) or "Barely a Footnote" — Superbowl XLIII and the NFL’s Betrayal of Pat Tillman" posted at http://www.feralfirefighter.blogspot.com (see June Posts).
Don't call it a comeback...
I grew up in Texas and EVERYONE there is a Cowboys fan, so with that said, I really didn’t like the Cowboys, so I really liked following The Broncos ever since “The Drive”. Elway was my favorite player until he Retired… in the mean time I started to really follow ASU, as I moved to Arizona, so then the Cardinals Drafted Plummer and Tillman and the Broncos just winning the Super Bowl, I started to gain more interest in a new under dog and started to follow and fall in love with the Cardinals. When the rumor that Plummer was leaving the Cardinals I was really hoping he went to play for the Broncos. I loved the move and I was really hoping Plummer could bring another SB victory, instead the Damn Steelers came along and crushed a dream.
Now I wonder what are the chances The Snake makes one last encore and comes back to the state it all began! 2 more years with the Cardinals baby…you have it in the tank jake!
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