Jake's retired . . . we think

[Gee!]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/0902nflinsider0903.html

Jake's retired . . . we think
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 2, 2007 06:56 PM

Trying to track down Jake Plummer is a lot like trying to catch a fly in midair while wearing oven mitts. I tried both recently - one because I was bored, the other because the boss suggested it - and trust me, both are nearly impossible.

Plummer's agent didn't return calls. One of Plummer's good friends said he had not heard from the former Arizona State, Cardinals and Broncos quarterback in months. His high school coach ran into him a while back, but the conversation was short and yielded little new information.

This much we know about Plummer: He's back in his home state of Idaho, hanging out with friends and family, playing in a lot of handball tournaments and either is about to get married or recently did, to a former Broncos cheerleader.

Plummer seems to have retired from the NFL, even though he apparently has not filed the necessary paperwork with the league or the players' union.

"I'm looking forward to hearing back from him, too," Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Bruce Allen said. "All I can tell you is I believe Jake when he says he's retired, but I also remain hopeful he will reconsider."

The Broncos, after having anointed Jay Cutler as their starting quarterback, traded Plummer to the Buccaneers in March for a conditional pick in next year's draft. But a week after it happened, Plummer called an audible and said he was walking away from a 10-year NFL career that seemed to have so much potential.

Like things often played out on the field for Plummer, this will end in confusion and controversy.

Everyone always pointed the finger at Plummer, and a lot of times he pointed one back - at his teammates, his coaches, the media and fans. He even used his middle finger on occasion to emphasize the point. But if you look at his passing stats and compare his 10 years to Broncos Hall of Famer John Elway's first 10 NFL seasons, you might be mildly surprised.

"Look, he's been a starting quarterback for four years of high school, four years of college and 10 years in the NFL," Plummer's good friend told me. "That's a long time and a lot of pressure for a guy. Can you really blame him for wanting to walk away?

"He's doing what anyone of us would want to do - just relaxing and living life. What's wrong with that?"

Absolutely nothing. If Jake is through with football, good for him. It's his life, his decision. In a small way, he's echoing Pat Tillman's spirit and, like his late, great friend, doing what he needs to do for himself and not anybody else.

Tillman's death in Afghanistan changed Plummer forever. That's why he can walk away from a guaranteed salary of more than $5 million this year. It's why he probably doesn't care all that much if the Buccaneers and the Broncos collectively come after him for nearly $7 million in signing bonuses that are part of the three years and $16 million he has remaining on his contract.

"We respect the player," Allen said. "We'll see if we can't come to a meeting of the minds."

If Plummer stays true to his word, the issue likely would be decided by an arbitrator. The process could take months. Allen said he and coach Jon Gruden want Plummer to play, even though the Buccaneers already have a new starter in Jeff Garcia.

"My feeling is that Jake is still one of the better quarterbacks in this league, and having him, along with Jeff, would be a nice problem for us to have," Allen said.

Don't bet on it. Steve Vogel, Plummer's coach at Capital High in Boise, Idaho, said he ran into the quarterback this year and said Plummer said he is finished.

Maybe Plummer just had enough and wanted to spend time with his girlfriend, brothers and at charitable events where he always has tried to help kids.

"That's the beauty of Jake," the friend said. "It wouldn't surprise me if the next time you saw him, he had short hair and a long beard or long hair and a ponytail. You just never know with him, and I love that about him."


Jake vs. John
A look at the statistics for Jake Plummer and John Elway from their first 10 NFL seasons:

JAKE PLUMMER Year Games Yards TDs INTs
1997 10 2,203 15 15
1998 16 3,737 17 20
1999 12 2,111 9 24
2000 14 2,946 13 21
2001 16 3,653 18 14
2002 16 2,972 18 20
2003 11 2,182 15 7
2004 16 4,089 27 20
2005 16 3,366 18 7
2006 16 1,994 11 13
Totals 143 29,253 161 161

JOHN ELWAY Year Games Yards TDs INTs
1983 11 1,663 7 14
1984 15 2,598 18 15
1985 16 3,891 22 23
1986 16 3,485 19 13
1987 12 3,198 19 12
1988 15 3,309 17 19
1989 15 3,051 18 18
1990 16 3,526 15 14
1991 16 3,253 13 12
1992 12 2,242 10 17
Totals 144 30,216 158 157

 

[TheCardFan]

Jake vs. John
A look at the statistics for Jake Plummer and John Elway from their first 10 NFL seasons:

JAKE PLUMMER Year Games Yards TDs INTs
Totals 143 29,253 161 161

JOHN ELWAY Year Games Yards TDs INTs
Totals 144 30,216 158 157

Would have lost that bet 10 times out of 10!

Amazing.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I hope Jake is loving life. Great guy, did loads with the community, and gave us our one playoff win.

 

[CtCardinals78]

I hope Jake is loving life. Great guy, did loads with the community, and gave us our one playoff win.

Amen I love Jake one of my favorite Cards ever. Still have his jersey!
Even though he didn't pan out like we'd hope he did lead us to our first playoff win in years. I think it was very unfair that Bill Walsh called him the next Joe Montana. I hate it when people do that crap it builds up the fans and puts undue pressure on a young player.I remember when Ray Allen was leaving UConn they called him the next Michael Jordan, come on. I love Ray Allen but Jordan, really?

He is a classy dude. I remember when he left for DEN I took off of work to watch his MNF game w/ DEN. I was always a fan of Jake.

My favorite Jake moment was when he was about to get sacked and threw a pass over his shoulder w/o looking I think to Thomas Jones. Of course it went for 6 the other way wasn't funny at the time but damn funny now!

 

[Jetstream Green]

The snake is aces with me

Yes, he did a lot of bonehead things on the field but he also got this bonehead franchise to the playoffs and a win against a team I can't stand. He will always have my respect and never did he jump on the Cardinals but rather treated the fans and organization with respect as well.

 

[40yearfan]

All this manlove makes me kinda miss Tango:sniff:

 

[CtCardinals78]

All this manlove makes me kinda miss Tango:sniff:

what happened to Tango?

 

[40yearfan]

what happened to Tango?

Permaban:shudder:

 

[CtCardinals78]

Permaban:shudder:

yikes what did he do? Don't mean to hijack the thread, but this guy named Tangodnzr and I are having some diagreements in another MB wondering if it's the same guy.

 

[Stout]

yikes what did he do? Don't mean to hijack the thread, but this guy named Tangodnzr and I are having some diagreements in another MB wondering if it's the same guy.

That's him all right. All he likes to do is instigate trouble, start trading personal insults, play devil's advocate just to needle people and not because he believes in a position, and in essence create a crappy atmosphere. Just go back to the other MB and tell him Bambi doesn't like him insulting people

 

[Hollywood]

yikes what did he do? Don't mean to hijack the thread, but this guy named Tangodnzr and I are having some diagreements in another MB wondering if it's the same guy.

Isn't there a pic of Tango with a deer floating around somewhere?

 

[CtCardinals78]

That's him all right. All he likes to do is instigate trouble, start trading personal insults, play devil's advocate just to needle people and not because he believes in a position, and in essence create a crappy atmosphere. Just go back to the other MB and tell him Bambi doesn't like him insulting people

Yeah sounds like him! I will thanks stout. I take it Bambi is an inside joke?

 

[Linderbee]

Isn't there a pic of Tango with a deer floating around somewhere?

just for fun, I did a GIS for "tangodnzr" and 10 of the 19 images were of ASFN members' avatars! None of them of tangodnzr, though.

I know where to find it...gimme a minute

 

[Linderbee]

Here you go:

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=46302&postcount=150

 

[Ryanwb]

I have a co-worker who is close to Jake and he says Jake wanted to quit "for a while". He is not coming back, he is enjoying retirement........

 

[Second Deck]

Amen I love Jake one of my favorite Cards ever. Still have his jersey!
Even though he didn't pan out like we'd hope he did lead us to our first playoff win in years. I think it was very unfair that Bill Walsh called him the next Joe Montana. I hate it when people do that crap it builds up the fans and puts undue pressure on a young player.I remember when Ray Allen was leaving UConn they called him the next Michael Jordan, come on. I love Ray Allen but Jordan, really?

He is a classy dude. I remember when he left for DEN I took off of work to watch his MNF game w/ DEN. I was always a fan of Jake.

My favorite Jake moment was when he was about to get sacked and threw a pass over his shoulder w/o looking I think to Thomas Jones. Of course it went for 6 the other way wasn't funny at the time but damn funny now!

I also have nothing but respect for Jake. The win over team Felon in the playoffs has to be the highlight of the Cards in AZ. Little did we know this team was going to implode the next year. The D was never the same once Swann could not recover from his injuries, Mark Smith and Rice were head casses. Add that to the fiasco in Minnesota when we lost Moore for the year it doesn't seem fair that Jake took so much of the heat