Jake Plummer Articles on 40 Sticker

[CardinalLaw]

Tillman tribute intercepted
Plummer at odds with NFL on wearing '40' decal on helmet

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
September 30, 2004

If Jake Plummer continues paying tribute to his former college and pro teammate Pat Tillman by wearing a "40" decal on his helmet, he soon could be paying through the nose.

Plummer, the Broncos starting quarterback and twice a former teammate of the late Tillman, was in violation of the NFL's uniform code when he donned the sticker during the Broncos' victory Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

His helmet still is emblazoned with Tillman's former uniform number.

Plummer said after practice Wednesday he hadn't been informed of a fine yet, likely $5,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for a second. But the league is promising to take action if he continues to ignore its call to desist, and might already have levied a fine through his agent.

"We will enforce our rule," NFL vice president of public relations Greg Aiello said.

All of the league's teams in Week 2 wore the "40" decal for Tillman, who was killed in the spring in combat in Afghanistan. Only the Arizona Cardinals, Tillman's former team, are slated to wear the decal all season.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Derek Smith, like Plummer, a former Arizona State teammate of Tillman's, petitioned the league last week to allow a personal continuation of the tribute.

The league declined, and Smith removed the "40" for the 49ers game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Plummer proceeded despite the denial.

"It's between me and the league right now," said Plummer, who also spent four seasons with Tillman (1998-2001) with the Cardinals. "We are working out something. They don't want us wearing that."

Plummer spoke of possible conciliation with the league "that won't infringe upon the NFL logo, their uniform codes," while continuing to honor his friend's memory "for the rest of the year."

"As long as I play, I will continue to do that," he added.

But any negotiations in that regard came as news to Aiello, who said, "I'm not familiar with any compromise."

The case is similar to one in September 2002, when Colts quarterback Peyton Manning wanted to wear high-top shoes as a nod to Johnny Unitas, who had died. The league also rejected that notion, and Manning went back to Indianapolis' usual white cleats.

"The rule is players can't use the uniform for personal tributes because there would be no place to draw the line," Aiello said. "There are certainly many ways for players to honor Pat Tillman than putting something on an NFL helmet."

Aiello also pointed out that Tillman has been recognized several times since his death, including at the draft, the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony and the season-opening kickoff show in addition to Week 2.

"I'm not going to fight the NFL about it," Plummer said.

 

[CardinalLaw]

There is also one on the Denver Post that won't load. Can you guys give it a try and post it up here.
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~86~2435821,00.html
Good Job Jake keep it on.

 

[DieHardCardFan]

Plummer looking for way to honor Tillman

By Patrick Saunders
Denver Post Staff Writer





Jake Plummer wants to make sure no one forgets Pat Tillman.

That's why Plummer has been wearing a No. 40 decal on the back of his helmet.

But the NFL has told Plummer he must remove the decal and find another way to honor Tillman, the former Arizona Cardinals safety who walked away from a lucrative NFL career to join the U.S. Army Rangers. Tillman was killed in action in April in Afghanistan.

"They don't want us wearing (the decal)," Plummer said Wednesday. "I want to honor Pat the best I can. I honor Pat every day, every game in my own private way. He's more important than just one game honoring him. We are working something out. I'm trying to get something done that won't infringe upon the NFL logo and uniform codes. I think it's a key thing. I think it's important to get done. But the NFL, they have to keep it somewhat regulated, or everybody will have something all over their uniforms."


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NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league has honored Tillman numerous times this year: at the NFL draft a few days after Tillman's death, at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in August, and on the second week of the season when players throughout the league wore Tillman's No. 40 on their helmets. The league also is working with Tillman's family to funnel proceeds from the sale of Tillman jerseys to the Pat Tillman Foundation.

The Cardinals will continue to display Tillman's number on their helmets this season, but individual players, such as Plummer, are not allowed to do so. If they do, they are subject to a $5,000 fine.

"Our longstanding policy prohibits putting personal messages on uniforms or helmets," Aiello said. "We do that because we need a consistent rule. You can't just pick and choose and say one message is OK but another isn't. Where would you draw the line?"

Plummer played with Tillman at Arizona State and later with the Cardinals, and the two became close friends. Long before the NFL honored Tillman league-wide in Week 2, Plummer was doing it on his own. As far back as training camp, Plummer was wearing a small No. 40 on the back of his helmet.

Now Plummer is searching for another way to honor Tillman.

"I'm not going to fight the NFL," he said. "I'm looking for some kind of compromise."

Yet Plummer said he couldn't understand why the Cardinals can display Tillman's number, but he can't.

"Half the players on the Arizona Cardinals didn't know Pat, and they get to wear it." Plummer said. "So why can't I?"

Aiello said a team, as a whole, could honor a player or a coach. Such was the case in 2000 when the Bears honored late Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton by wearing a football-shaped patch with No. 34 on it.

"A team can decide to wear a number, but we do not allow individuals to put personal messages on their uniforms," Aiello said.

Last week, San Francisco linebacker Derek Smith, Tillman's former teammate at Arizona State, was told by the league that he no longer could wear Tillman's number on his helmet. Smith said he planned to honor Tillman by writing No. 40 on a piece of tape and attaching it to his face mask.


Bell ready to answer?
The Broncos are coming off the worst rushing performance of coach Mike Shanahan's 10-year stint with the team - just 37 yards against the Chargers - but there is no assurance rookie running back Tatum Bell will provide a jump-start Sunday in Tampa. Bell missed Denver's 23-13 victory over San Diego on Sunday with injured rib cartilage. He also missed much of preseason with a broken finger.

Bell practiced Wednesday, but Shanahan said Bell must stay healthy to be able to help the team.

"You take a look at a guy who has had a problem with his finger, and then he has been out for a week," Shanahan said.


Footnote
Cornerback Lenny Walls, still wearing a harness to support his injured shoulder, said he should be able to play Sunday. However, Walls said the shoulder still is painful and will not be completely healed this season.

Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-820-5459 or at [email protected] .