Plummer's Passion Plays

[Hammock Parties]

Broncos *

(* Violated the salary cap during their championship seasons) *

(* Violated the salary cap during their championship seasons) teammates quick to support quarterback after incident

By Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writer


No one in the Broncos *

(* Violated the salary cap during their championship seasons) *

(* Violated the salary cap during their championship seasons) organization is condoning Jake Plummer's actions Sunday in response to a heckling fan, but no one is condemning him.

With assurances from a contrite Plummer that he will not behave that way again, the team is moving on and chalking up the incident to Plummer being his competitive self - and briefly losing his cool. Many teammates supported Plummer, who was not available for comment Monday, and said they appreciate his intensity.

"Jake is a fiery, competitive guy. That's why he's here, because he wants nothing more than to win football games," defensive lineman Trevor Pryce said. "I mean, look how he looks. He doesn't care about his personal hygiene; he does not care about his haircut or his face or what any of you think. Just know that: He does not care.

"He does not care what anybody else thinks; he wants to win football games, and that's his only motivation. It's not money, it's not girls, not nothing. It is winning football games. Anybody can say anything about him they want, Shannon (Sharpe) can say something, you guys can say something, I can say something. It does not matter to him, and that's why I love him, to tell you the truth."

Plummer made an obscene gesture captured by television cameras after throwing an interception with 6:10 left in the first quarter Sunday of the Broncos *

(* Violated the salary cap during their championship seasons) *

(* Violated the salary cap during their championship seasons)' 20-17 victory over Miami at Invesco Field at Mile High. Plummer was sitting on the Denver bench wearing a cap when he made the gesture.

Plummer apologized after the game and said the gesture was directed at one fan who was heckling him.

Coach Mike Shanahan said he talked to Plummer after the game and said Plummer apologized to him and owner Pat Bowlen.

The team will not fine Plummer. The NFL had no statement on the incident Monday but began a review. A league spokesman said an announcement of a fine likely will come Friday. First offense fines usually are $5,000.

A CBS spokeswoman said Monday the network didn't have a comment on Plummer's action, only saying, "It's live sports." CBS doesn't have a delay on its NFL coverage, unlike ABC and ESPN, which use a five-second delay.

Denver cornerback Champ Bailey said he doesn't blame Plummer.

"I'm not in Jake's shoes; he has a lot of pressure on him," Bailey said. "As a quarterback in this organization, people are on you. Jake was just frustrated."

Shanahan said his quarterback needs to control his emotions when similar situations arise.

"I think Jake understands this game is very tough on a quarterback," he said. "If you can't handle that type of heat, then usually you don't last very long. I remember times back in the '80s when (the fans) were booing John Elway and asking for Gary Kubiak. You don't think that was tough on John? That was tough on John. It's human nature. It's tough on everybody, but you work your way through it.

"If you are mentally tough enough, you will survive. If not, you acquiesce and you are gone."

Plummer received support around the league Monday. In San Diego, Chargers quarterback Drew Brees said he understands how Plummer reached his boiling point.

"Everyone feels like doing that at times," Brees said. "It's because there is a lot of unfair criticism that goes around, and I think Jake has been getting that a lot lately. Obviously, you can't do that sort of thing, but I think all players can empathize a little bit."

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Originally Posted by Bill Wiliamson

Plummer's passion plays