Report: QB Plummer to retire
NFL.com
(March 2, 2007) -- NFL Network's Adam Schefter has learned Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer is expected to announce his retirement.
Earlier today, it had been reported that the Broncos agreed to terms on a trade that would send Plummer to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick. That trade is expected to be nullified due to Plummer's decision to retire.
Plummer has played 10 seasons in the NFL. A second-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 1997, he played six seasons in Arizona before signing with Denver in 2003. He led the Broncos to the 2005 AFC Championship Game, but was replaced as the starter late in the 2006 season by rookie Jay Cutler.
Broncos deal Plummer to Tampa Bay
Englewood, CO (Sports Network) - Despite talks of retirement, Jake Plummer was still traded by the Denver Broncos to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.
News of the deal first leaked Friday, and the Denver Post also reported that Plummer indicated he would rather retire than play for another NFL team.
If Plummer decides to play, the trade gives the Buccaneers a glut of quarterbacks, as the team signed Jeff Garcia on Saturday to compete for the starting job with Chris Simms and Bruce Gradkowski.
Garcia was among the top free agents on the market after leading Philadelphia to the playoffs following a season-ending injury to Donovan McNabb. Simms is trying to fully recover from a spleenectomy performed last fall, and Gradkowski was mostly inefficient as Simms' replacement.
Plummer, meanwhile, lost his starting job in Denver to rookie Jay Cutler late last season. Cutler played the final five games of the 2006 campaign after Plummer had guided Denver to a record of 7-4.
Despite the solid record, Plummer struggled and had a passer rating of just 70.5 -- 14th among 15 AFC quarterbacks -- when he was benched. He finished the season completing just 55.2 percent of his passes for 1,994 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
The 32-year-old veteran spent four seasons in Denver and led the Broncos to the AFC Championship Game after the 2005 season. He played the first six years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals.
Plummer, who starred at Arizona State collegiately, led the dismal Cardinals to one playoff appearance in his six seasons with Arizona. He has thrown for 29,253 yards with 161 touchdowns and 161 interceptions in his NFL career.
Jake doesn't know if he is coming or going ???
Jake doesn't know if he is coming or going ???
Plummer announces retirement
Associated Press
DENVER (AP) - Jake Plummer poured a glass of water, took a giant gulp and then talked for almost five minutes about how he was officially retiring from the NFL before stepping away from the podium without answering any questions.
The Denver Broncos quarterback was in a hurry Friday. He had a handball tournament he needed to attend.
"I wanted to come in and tell you guys on camera and face-to-face that the speculation can stop tonight," Plummer said from the Denver Athletic Club. "You can know by the looking in my face and hearing my words that I am retiring from the NFL. At 32 years old, I'm running away from the game. Not in fear or fright, but health-wise. I'm healthy. I'm happy. I have a lot to look forward to in my life."
The Broncos traded Plummer to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 3 for a conditional pick in the 2008 draft. The Bucs made the deal despite being aware of Plummer's retirement plans. He said on the Web site of The Jake Plummer Foundation last Saturday that he was retiring.
"Football has been awesome to me in many ways. I leave the game with my health and happiness, and look forward to the future," Plummer said on the Web site.
Yet there was still doubt whether he'd follow through with retirement. Maybe it was leverage to get traded to the Houston Texans so he could be reunited with former offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak?
Plummer doused the speculation.
"You don't have to chase me around anymore," he said. "There will not be a jersey that has an NFL patch right here (pointing to his chest). If (Broncos third-string quarterback) Preston Parsons gets in somehow, maybe I'll have his jersey on."
Plummer has three years left on his contract and was due $5.3 million in 2007. He led Denver to the AFC championship game two seasons ago, but lost his starting job after 11 games last season to rookie Jay Cutler. Plummer was 40-18 as Denver's starter, including a 1-3 mark in the playoffs.
"I poured my heart and soul into this game, not just in the NFL, but in college and in high school," Plummer said. "I'm ready to move on with my life and try some new challenges."
One of those challenges is handball. He and his brother, Eric, were scheduled to play in the Colorado state handball doubles tournament this weekend.
"Life is grand, life is exciting," Plummer said. "I'm excited to move on, and encounter and take on new challenges with my life. ... I'm excited to see my family more, to be spending time with my friends. You guys can probably know that I'll be at a mountain, either at the bottom or the top of a mountain somewhere. Don't worry about Jake, he'll be fine."
Plummer went out of his way to heap praise on his teammates and how much they meant to him.
"Anything in the NFL I've ever achieved, anything I did that was positive, exciting, got you on your feet, I couldn't have done it without the guys surrounding me, the guys that gave me the love, gave me the energy," Plummer said. "If anything, that's the hardest thing - I'll miss those guys."
Plummer gripped the edge of the podium and stared down.
"Just know I'm going to be fine," he said. "I appreciate everyone's support. So, thank you."
With that he retreated down the hall of the Denver Athletic Club to get ready for his handball match.
Yeah he really doesn't know if he's coming or going, I thought he still had a couple of good years left in him.