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Mike had to make the offer though. For if he didn't, it would be the ultimate slap on the face. Aside from drafting a qb in the 1st rd, calling plays that dont support your qb's strengths, keeping the leash on him ( I don't fault, by the way) and letting the news leak that Jake was going to get benched prior to the sit down meeting. Other than that, it was 'professional courtesy'. As my parents once taught me, 'never burn your bridges'.
However, in this case, I think Mike lit a fire to that bridge back on April 29, 2006 with the draft of JC. He's only added lighter fluid to it since.
With the class of our organization and the desire to win NOW, I never anticipated the team allowing personal feelings to interfere with a business decision. Even one of the most vocal Plummer supporters in Alexander verbally stood up for Cutler. Kudos.
I, as many, believe a move like this was intended and will light the proverbial fire throughout the team and I'm looking forward to the results. Burn Baby Burn!!!
Broncos -16, +6 = Hope
Very selfishly, I'd like to see Jake stay with Denver as well. I mean, if a team with Denver's offensive weapons and QB-friendly coaching staff can't get to and win a superbowl with Jake, what makes any other front office think they can? I'm hoping that Jake's market value dips so low that there are no starting jobs out there for him next year and, with "backup" as his only viable option, he decides to stay where he knows the system and play for a team that respects him. For people who aren't students of the game, Plummer is like 25-30% the reason for the success of our kicking game - he's an outstanding place-holder. He knows the system, and he'd make a *fantastic* backup in the event Jay had to go out for a period of time and we needed to pick up a few games. Defenses are prepared to stop Jake now. They won't be ready for him as a backup, and he'd be successful for a game or two if needs be. I'm not sure how everyone forgets that Plummer batted .700 for us, but he did, and he'd be just that successful as a backup.
So, quick, start telling all your friends who work for other NFL teams that Jake's a terrible QB, and with any luck we'll get to keep him! :)
Drew Brees stepped up and performed when they drafted Phillip Rivers. Jake wilted under pressure, just like he always does.
Rob - Cortez CO
i really feel sorry for jake, he's a good guy and he really battled his ass off, but seemed like the pressure created by the media, shanahan, the departure of kube was too much for one guy, but his failure was not all his fault, there were some crucial drops, too ...
by the way i also think that the other guy named manning in ny should be pulled for a game or two to think over some things (maybe that doesn't belong here - ok - i shut up ;)
It is a shame that people in the media nor the fans will wake up to that fact that their team cannot push their opponents off the line. Denver is a 9-7 or 10-6 team at best because of this inability.
They will never win another Super Bowl until they fix the problems up front by getting men that can blow people off the line. Period.
Jake will have plenty of offers for next season choosing a better OL than Denvers.
GO KC!!!
Does your parents know you're on their computer? With spelling like that, you're better off sticking to a No. 2 pencil and your D'Nealian style, 1/2" ruling, dotted midline, red baseline, 1/4" decender line tablet. I'm sorry. Your 1st grade notepad.
Let's review:
1)It's 'Jake', not 'Jack'.
2)Jay is 'an' untested rookie.
3)It's 'Bradlee', not 'Bradly'.
4)It's 'kept', not 'keept'.
5)It's 'decide', not 'descide'.
6)It's 'their' line, not 'there'.
7)It's either 'don't' or 'do not' and not 'donnt'.
8)It's 'change', not 'chane'.
9)As I teach my 6 year old, always place a period after your sentance!!!
By the way, Bradlee was horrible, thus, the reason he is still out of work! Get over it, already. Now, go do your homework!!!
Change is hard folks, but come on. Playoff chances? How many times do we have to limp into a playoff game to simply get blown out. It is about championships, not just the first round.
Our playoff hope this year were crippled weeks ago. Every team knew to beat Denver you stuffed the run and made Jake throw.
-Throw for 3 when we need 7
-Run a sneak for 2 when we need 5
-Throw behind a rec. for a pick, when we need one more 1st down to ice the game, etc.
oh and by the way...All this bluster about Jake having a comparable record to No. 7 is a farce as well. Jake road a good team to that record, John carried many. Imagine for a minute if we could swap the two, what would happen? Denver would have never sniffed any playoffs in the 80's or 90's with Jake, let alone a winning record. But give a John this team over the last four years and tell me we don't have at least one ring if not 3. Imagine young John, say circa 1986-89, with this defense, (rested from not having to play 7/8's of every game), puhlease.....
It's time to move on. Jake is gone, (thank god) and Shannie's only mistake was not pulling the plug weeks ago.
Let the kid who played for a losing school and never sniffed a big bowl game, with the big arm have a shot. Hmmmmm, remind you of anyone?
I'm sorry. We've played you twice and moved on. Why don't you do the same? I mean, why would you want to continue to fraternize with us 'crazy b's' as you so politely referenced???
Listen, do us Bronco fans a favor, shut your pie hole and go back into your trailer, turn on Jerry Springer and do what you always do - spin the chamber on your revolver and place it to your head and pull the trigger. Today may just be your lucky day! Here's hoping!!!
Anyone that blames Plummer's misfortunes and lack of skill on the COACH is just a fool. While Plummer's good record here *may* be IN SPITE of Plummer, you can be CERTAIN that the top 3 winningest team rank over the last 10 years is ONLY due to Shanahan. Shanahan put it together, period. No one else can make that claim- the architect gets the credit for the successful design, not the guy that hammers the nails while following the plan. Plummer had his BEST years under Shanahan, that's no accident.
Yes, Shanahan has his issues, but to credit Jake for his unparalleled successes here while simultaneously blaming Shanahan for his failures is just idiotic.
Loyalty is a good thing, unless it's taken to the point of zealotry.
That said, putting Cutler in won't help crappy play calling, predictable non-adjusting, one dimensional defense and special teams that are only short bus special.
The players are not the problem. It is the unqualified assistant coaches.
Ummmmm, he did it MULTIPLE times over his career- a game against the Vikings specifically pops to mind. Get a clue before you post.
Don't post in BroncoLand if you don't have your facts down cold, pal- you'll get lit up.
you better clean up your own backyard before complaining about everyone else's.
If you are not aware of the (9 Pro Bowls, 5 SBs with 2 RINGS!) 3,407 yards that Elway gained on the ground, and the various CBs that he trucked while doing so- then it is you that needs to "Move on", apparenltly you do not know football!
Feel free to view the 1998 supebowl in which John scored one of the most spectacular touchdowns in SB history by runinng through/over two Green Bay defenders.
ELWAY NEVER SLID! He always got the evtra yards by taking on the defender and ususally falling forward.
Ugh! Enough history lessons... Take your panties off, Turn on NFL Network, or Classic ESPN, and try to learn the game called, "FOOTBALL."
(P.S. You better hope not to see us in the playoffs, because if you can barely beat us when we paly as poorly as we did, you'll have a hell of a time when we are playing average, and NO CHANCE if we play well.
-FOR EVERYONE ELSE....
I have been a long time Jake supporter, but that KC game has made me say, "Let me at least give the kid a chance... maybe we get lucky and get some Romo, Tom Brady, or (early) Ben Roth. type production.
I do not know if it is the coaching (lack of) or if it is the intense media, or what? But the basic QB fundemantals for Jake, have gone COMPLETELY out the window. He through at least 50% of his passes off his back foot. NOT GOOD!
If Jake could get back to the basics of (QB) football, I think he could still be an all pro.
.....(Que the 'EYE OF THE TIGER' music, and bring in Appolo Creed for the training!)
2)
Aaron Rodgers got hurt but Green Bay has not written him off yet.
Teams like Oakland, Vikings, or Detroit will be looking to trade. Vikings or Detroit make the most sense since Plummer and anyone traded for him would get sent to a different conference.
But shall we start the Plummer for Moss rumors? relax. I'm kidding.
I know if I'm Shanny, I'm certain to start taking advice from KC and Oakland fans who don't have jobs and sit on rival team websites all day.
Cutler will do well, but even if he doesn't there are still those of us who remember the early Elway years. The kid gets a pass this year...
Forget SuperBowl XLI. Plenty of us are holding out hope for XLII and XLIII and XLIV and XLV.
Plummer won't be back next year... his ego and the Broncos checkbook won't allow it.
...and I love the thought of Plummer with the Raiders...
1) Does your parents know you're on their computer? Come on dumbass its "Do your parents....."
Period at the end of each "sentance". Take a remedial reading or Adult Literacy Course, jackass!!!
Give the kid a break and take a Community College 101 Intro to English Course:
1) "Does your parents know..."
= Do your parents know...?
Sentance? Sentance? Come on dude, before you give lectures, learn proper English yourself.
Since we're in the correcting mode ......
"Does your parents know you’re on their computer?" ~ may not show up on your grammar check but ~ "Do" your parents know you’re on their computer? ~ would be the correct version .... just thought it was ironic ....
On the Jake issue, I'm happy to see Cutler getting a shot on this team as I've been following his work in college and was picking him as the best NFL career of the top three when all's said and done.
Jake Plummer can't handle pressure. It's one thing to try hard on a team that is a loser, it's another to come into a situation that expects to win. Some say look at his winning percent. "Figures lie and liars figure." The positive winning percent is the reult of being part of a great team, not from being a great player. When has Jake won a big game for the Broncos. Usually most of us are on our couch, hoping he doesn't screw it up. Sorry, but that's not being a big timer. When some QB's take the field with 2 minutes left there is a sense of hope. No sene of that with Plummer.
Looking back, Jake Plummer wasn't a very good QB in Arizona either, so this shouldn't be surprizing!
Jay Cutler will have some ups and downs but I'll guarantee everyone in Colorado we'll have far greater chance to bring home more championships with a fearless 'rookie' with a cannon for an arm than a snake who curls up under pressure.
I just hope when the comparisons to Elway begin (which is rediculous) won't jinx him.
Why did they call ZERO roll outs in the San Diego game? Way to not play to the strengths of your players.
Maybe it's not the loss of Kubiak specifically, but I have to think having a former QB as offensive coordinator may have been more helpful to Jake than a former LB.
Imagine Ricky and Jake sportin their beards and smokin the J's. It would be like Strange Brew 2. PERFECT FIT.
Cutler-
ATT:1242 COMP:710 PCT:57.2 YDS:8697 TD:59 INT:34
Plummer's last 4 years-
ATT:1594 COMP:944 PCT:59.2 YDS:11631 TD:71 INT:46
Now I agree that the past few games Plummer has played like crap but the blame shouldn't be based just on him. If you can't get any more than 38 total rushing yards in a game you cant't expect to win and some of the incomplete passes were drops by the WR. Although I do think Cutler is the future QB for the Broncos I think it is to early to start him. I think he needs to sit on the bench for couple of years before he will be ready to start as the QB. Our best bet until then is to leave Plummer in.
Be careful when talking about Oakland's "1-2-3 championships", I don't think any Raiders player can count any higher than 2, as in their win total.
On a more serious note, I think Brandon needs more play. He actually reminds me of Rod Smith when he first broke into the league. It took him a couple seasons to get that consistency. Same for Sheffler. He's getting paid too much to be left off the roster. He showed he could catch Jay in the pre-season. He just seems to be in awe of starters. He needs to get over that "deer in the headlight" syndrome and he will start to produce.
He was tired of loosing in Arizona and now he has gotten used to winning.
Moreover no job is better in football than the backup quaterback. You are always the most liked guy in town. In jake case if we get him that is, he will get close to one million dollars each year for holding the clipboard and also include the fact no damn reporter in denver will be going after his head :)
As to Plummer, well, his NFL days are over, period. Every other team in the league will consider him "radioactive" and not want to bother with the time and expense of signing him. While he might find a few marginal seasons in the CFL or maybe some European league, my advice to Plummer would be to do the honorable thing and retire...
However, I still must disagree with you. Why? How many games did Jake have to work with in comparison to Jay over the past 4 seasons? Now, in reviewing the #'s, it looks like the only tangible + for JP would be his completion %. His Yards per catch are less and his int/td ratio is higher. Which is the very reason we've been screaming for JC these past few weeks.
Bottomline, Jake has played like a rookie and has left the organization no other option than to play the rookie. As for those that think Jake will settle as a back-up, retire and/or coach, you're silly. As I said with the very first post, Jake will follow the money trail to whichever team is willing to have him as their starting QB. I would definitely like to see him become a Raider and watch our turnover margin improve!!!
By the way, my apologies for the earlier grammatical errors. Taught me a lesson!
ARE YOU KIDDING?!!!
Plummer a starter next year? Cutler not winning a game? That is a major laugh! Unless Cutler suffers a career or season ending injury that will never happen. I like Plummer and he deserves and will go on to be a starter next season for another team. However, the truth is he has always struggled in big games because of his inability to handle pressure. As he did in Arizona, he failed to make plays and consistently turned the ball over when trying to force a play under the pressure of an aggressive defense or when having to match points against high scoring offense. That flaw plagued his career and doomed him in Denver. Cutler is a qb who posesses better mechanics and skills than Plummer and who under Shanahans guidance can not only provide a more dynamic offense but who thus far in his college career has shown the ability to play well under pressure. Make no mistake Jake will win games and return this team to offensive prominence and Plummer will play for another team next year and probably find more success once he is no longer on a leash and has a defense that can make up for his occasional errors. Denver just wasn't the right fit for him.
Shanahan and the Broncos got lucky last year in getting to host the AFC championship and that is as far as they will ever go with Plummer.For some of the Fans thats good enough, but others would like to see Denver win
another superbowl.
Cutler can take them to the next level.
If you are not excited about the QB change, you are just content to be mediocre. If thats the case go be a KANSAS CITY CHIEF fan, they are are 8-8, 9-7 every year and always choke in the playoffs.
Most Likely
Tampa Bay---Gruden loves mobile QB's and Simms is a unknown for next year. Gruden's system is pretty complex so Plummer might not be able to beat out Simms etc.
Jax---Leftwich is going to be traded and Garrard is a decent QB but they'll want someone to battle him in training camp unless they draft a rookie. Jake would win this battle quite easily.
Buffalo---Losman is looking better but they may want to bring in a veteran to compete with him. Doubt Plummer wants to play in Buffalo.
Cleveland--Frye has looked terrible this season.
Oakland--Doubtfull.
They will be drafting a QB in the TOP 5 and starting him. Brooks will be the backup.
Houston--They have committed to Carr so unless they want someone to challenge him I doubt they'd sign Plummer cuz he might beat out Carr in training camp.
Minni--Childress likes his mobile QB's...but he also doesn't like INT's.
Highly unlikely but possible
Detroit
Phili
GB
Keeping him: If the Broncos are interested, it would surely involve restructuring his contract. Whether Plummer would do that depends on what his agent finds out about the market for Plummer (starting position and $). It only takes 1 team to make a decent offer, but it would take a team with an unsettled QB situation, no shot at Brady Quinn, and with a strong offensive coach. Cleveland fits 2 of those, but may not be ready to give up on Frye. Keep in mind that while the Broncos have given a lot of money for us normal folks, in NFL starting QB terms, it was not a ton. Is his stock any higher no than it was then? If there is not a market for him as a starter, it then comes down to whether the manner in which the situation was handled (leaks to the media) bothered him enough to make him not accept restructuring vs signing for backup money elsewhere.
The move to Cutler: Plummer is not an awful QB, but he is wildly inconsistent. I believe the pressure on him since the drafting of Cutler was a problem for him. He played hard, but he either was pressing or being too much of a gunslinger. I’m not so sure that the offense was any more limited because of Plummer this year than any other. Rod Smith cannot get open downfield anymore. The RBs are apparently not trusted as receivers since, besides screens, rarely are intended targets. The TEs seem either to not get open or drop the ball (with the notable exception of the Oakland game). Those things all limit the offense. Jake actually throws a good deep ball. Cutler will not change the things that limited the deep ball – no running threat and only 1 receiver that can get deep. Where Cutler’s stronger arm will help is on out patterns and intermediate-deep routes. As for accuracy, well, a strong arm is not an accurate arm. While I was just as frustrated as anyone else that Jake could hardly ever hit a receiver on a slant pattern in stride, look at
Cutler’s completion %’s in college – they are not much different than Jake Plummer’s during his years with the Broncos. Further, every pre-draft evaluation on places like ESPN, etc all noted that he was inconsistent in his passing mechanics.
Another factor in this is that, when Griese was elevated to a starter, Mike noted how he was amazed that someone had fully learned the offense in one year. Even if Cutler has been a great student thus far, I suspect he does not have the complete playbook yet. Hopefully he is adequately prepared to read defenses and respond to the blitz.
The difference for Jake between this year and last is that last year, he had to manage the game and the offense did not need him to be a playmaker all the time. This year, he has been put into the situation of having to make plays more often and while he has been up to it at some points, he just is not capable of doing it as often as the Broncos have needed to be 9-2 vs. 7-4. So Cutler will have to do that as a rookie. Big challenge. Obviously, the coaches think he has more potential in this regard than Plummer.
The only thing that bothers me is the leaks to the media that he was playing for his job and was going to be replaced soon, etc. Of course, every player is evaluated for performance every week. However, given the rampant media speculation since the moment Cutler was drafted, why add fuel to the fire? Any employee, no matter how well compensated, would be affected by that. Being benched is part of the game. Making your QB into a lame duck is not very smart, though.
That said, overall Shanahan should stick around as long as he wants. The Broncos have maintained a level over his years that very few coaches could have maintained. With the salary cap, the Broncos have basically rebuilt post-Elway and healthy Davis while being a legit playoff contender with rare exception.
Thanks Jake, Your a class act guy.
I would like to see Plummer get with an NFC team. Meet the Broncos in the Superbowl and set another blow out record, how about a championship for Jake, final score 60- Broncos 3.
Thanks Shanny for watching last year's AFC Championship Game and realizing that Jake Plummer is completely incapable of raising his game when the chips are down. Plummer turns into a slapstick comedian in big moments of big games, and I say good riddance. Think about it...if Shanny hadn't traded up to draft Cutler we'd be absolutely STUCK with Jake Bummer for the rest of the season. Instead, we have hope now and in the future. Anyone who thinks we should keep Plummer and get rid of Shanahan knows nothing about football.. or about anything else, for that matter. Gee, Jake Bummer is the 29th ranked QB in a 32 team league. Not exactly setting the bar terribly high for Cutler. So why not start the rookie? Damn right, Shanny!!!
The right: Plummer can't take the pressure of an 8-in-the-box defense. Contributing to the Broncos rushing for a pathetic 38 yards.
Constrast Rivers with the Chargers. He attacks defenses that stack the 8 in-the-box to stop LT with effective passing.
Bronco Billy's wrong: There is a reason that the Broncos rushed for 258 yds vs the Chargers...
No Merriman & no Castillo!
It'd be SHOCKING if the Broncos rushed for that kinda yds vs the Chargers in SD with Merriman & Castillo returning.
Lastly, I hope the damn Raiders take Plummer next year. If Al Davis is senile enough to take him good luck. I hate that team and their Neanderthal fans.
Respect the Broncos team and fans greatly...
You're all a bunch of spoiled cry babies stuck in the so called JE era. Let it go and move on. As for the stats and comparisons, give it up. First of all, college stats and NFL stats is not a comparison because the speed and tenacity level of the game is totally diferent. Second, to compare both Jake and Jay is also ridiculous. There is nothing to compare except JC's pre-season and JP's NFL career. So to compare the two is idotic. Jake has done what he could do and couldn't take his game to the next level. Jay Cutler has to prove what it takes to play on the real level. Let's see what happens. The change may hurt some of you B-fans but it was a good move and team is in need of a spark. The Broncos do not have a great pass defense and never did. It's horrific!
Everyone is always quick to pull the trigger when the coach makes a qb change. You're not the coach and quit your whining!
btw. John Elway didn't win a SuperBowl until he was 37. The problem with Broncos fans are that they still are obsessed with Elway. Get over it. I'm not obsessed with Montana or Young. Give Jake a chance and a better line.
but it would probably be better to just wait and see what the kid can do. He hasn't even played a game yet and everybody is trying to analyze the move. You'd have better luck predicting the weather for the game.
My guess: Clear and cold. 28 degrees at kickoff.
A couple of more thoughts. This was mentioned earlier on, don't discount the impact of the loss of Kubiak. I think he was a good buffer between Jake and Shanahan and might have given him a wider leash. It also takes time for a team to adjust when losing that consistency. For the reason noted above, it would be nice to have a Kukiak type in there to guide Jay like Shanahan was early on for Elway. He likes the kid, but don't discount the need for balancing forces at the coaching level.
Second, losing Mike Anderson was equally big. He's not TD, but I'll take him over the Bell's any day.
Tying the two points together...remember when Gibbs left and came back and left again??? The O-line was shaky for a couple of years, got better last year and then injuries have killed us this year. It's all a big picture and to send Jake up the river is a tough one. I hope it's the right call.
For all the in Elway we trust fans (self included) seems to me that there was some mid career calls for a trade, misc. grumblings, etc. It's a tough town to play in, but if you make it we'll love ya forever.
Hmmmm, as I recall Stanford is not exactly the center of college football, who could possibly graduate from there and be any good...some guy must have came from there... hmmm, I think his name was Elway or something.
Dave in KC
The Biggest Bronco fan east of the Rockies and dare anyone to prove me wrong.
As far as Plummer goes, now is as good a time as any since Shanahan brought Cutler in to replace him. Now Shanahan and Cutler will have to produce or admit failure. In which case, Shanahan will wish he stuck to his original plan to pick the big stud running back of the draft, Maroney. If he did, the Denver running attack would still be among the top in the league with Denver headed straight to the Super Bowl. And no, Plummer was not to blame for the last game’s poor running effort as the line did not block well even when KC had only 5 or 6 KC players in the box. You can’t even beat Detroit or Arizona with that poor level of line blocking.
The rest of the season will be exciting as it will show if Shanahan has lost his touch, Cutler is a gem or a lump of coal, and expose the true level of talent and desire of the rest of the Broncos team. Plummer haters, what will you cry about if the Broncos fall flat during the rest of this season?
I think it's very possible to acquire a QB that can win us a 2 or 3 Superbowls. Heck, we could already have him in Jay Cutler? Time will tell.
There have been more than a couple of QBs that have won 2 or more Superbowls and I'm sure there will be plenty more in the NFL future. I just hope we get another one soon!
GO VIKES...We'll take Jake in a heartbeat!!!!!
Thanks for all you tried to do jake. It won't be forgotten. But the future just got here and is so bright baby I think I may just have to wear shades.
Jake Plummer failing in the Broncos system is like a kid failing special ed. The offense is designed for a medicore quarterback to have average success. Plummer either failed or had average success. No consistency.
A great Plummer game is when he throws for two touchdowns and 220 yards..and thats relying on Rod Smith to make some immaculate play in which he gets crushed in the endzone.
Isn't it time that we put in a quarterbacks that's average game will be 220 with two touchdowns and a great game will be 400+ and 4TD's? It's time. I like the move. Cutler has all the confidence in the world where everyone else is just wondering what Jake's going to do next to screw up.
Jake wasn't getting the job done, but I guess the only thing that matters to you, being such a fan of the team, is whether Plummer is the QB. If he is, you're a fan. If he isn't, you're an "ex-fan".
That Jakeraide must be very, very tasty.
Chiefsfan, don't you have anything better to do than trash the local team? And oh yeah, HOW many playoff games have you guys won again? Get a life.
Most of you guys sound like morons.
On an end note, I was watching Cutler throwing during warmups, and his throws have a lot better velocity and force than I have seen a Denver QB throw with since Elway. So that may result in big plays.
Good luck Plummer, wherever you go
I think Jake felt betrayed when the broncos drafted Cutler, especially after having a pretty good season last year.Because Denver chose to draft a hot shot like Cutler, Maybe Jake was saying F--- the Broncos the whole season because he knew he was going bye bye anyway and chose to play the way he played this year. Maybe he is happy to be Mr. back up man because he knows he can go somehwere else and be the #1 guy like he wants to be??Jake DEFINITLEY wants to be a leader and not a follower.