Jake Plummer Talks To Joe
January 28th, 2015
Of all the people Joe never imagined running into at the Super Bowl media center in downtown Phoenix was none other than former Bucs (?) quarterback Jake “The Snake” Plummer.
Folks may remember how Plummer, then with the Broncos, led Denver to the 2006 AFC title game, where they were blitzed by Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers, arguably Big Ben’s best game as an NFL quarterback.
Plummer’s career and life went off the deep end after that. He was benched for bratty Jay Cutler the following season by Mike Shanahan and then, traded to the Bucs. Rather than moving to Tampa Bay, Plummer went into hiding. He and his former Broncos cheerleader wife high-tailed it to northern Idaho to live in seclusion.
Despite hard sales tactics by Bruce Almighty and Chucky, including visits to his Idaho home, Plummer was done with the NFL.
In recent years, Plummer has not been as much of a hermit, and Joe was shocked to see him just an hour or so ago. Plummer was kind enough to let Joe squeeze in a few quick questions in his busy schedule.
JoeBucsFan: How close were you to playing for the Bucs?
Jake Plummer: Aaaahhh… not very close at all.
Joe: Now, did Bruce Almighty and Chucky visit with you and try to woo you to Tampa Bay?
Plummer: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
Joe: What was it like? What sales pitch did they try to use?
Plummer: They said they would give me a million dollars to put in my foundation. Then they fist-bumped me under the table like that would [seal the deal], like that was real unique. I was done. At some point, when you have played at a competitive level at anything, you reach a point where you are done. And I was done. And I was alright in saying that. I was retired. I sent in my papers, but I had a coach at the time [Shanahan] who didn’t believe in me. And he traded my rights to Tampa. Got a sixth round draft pick — I have to find out who they got with that draft pick. I hope he was a good player. But I had retired. I was done. I love Coach Gruden, Jon Gruden. I always thought he was a great coach. I would have loved to play for him. But at that point, I wasn’t in it 100 percent and you can’t play this game without your whole heart.
Joe: Any regrets not trying to play for [Chucky]?
Plummer: No, not really. I think 10 years [in the NFL] is good. You know, I looked at the possibility of winning the Super Bowl or doing a few more good things and having a shot to make the Hall of Fame. But that is my ego trying to talk. I had an amazing career. What I did, phenomenal. I am very proud of what I accomplished along with my teammates and everybody that was there on the ride with me. It was an exciting thing to be a retired NFL football player. Who knows what could have happened in Tampa? It wasn’t because of anything — not the team, the owners or the coaches. [Not playing] was because Jake Plummer was done playing ball.
January 28th, 2015 at 6:13 pm
Jake “The Snake” is one of the few guys who really gets it! Kudos to him and thanks for that interview Joe.
I really think that’s what happened to JFro. It wasn’t Schiano, drugs, or any of the other stuff. I think JFro simply lost the fire in his belly.
Competing at the level of the NFL requires 100% commitment. I admire Plummer for figuring it out and being comfortable in his own skin.
Meanwhile I saw a story the other night about how things are not going to end well for Brady and the Pats. Brady wants to play into his mid 40’s and is doing everything, avocado ice cream, the requisite grueling workouts.
But who thinks Belicheat will keep Brady one game beyond the day he starts to slip.
Who was the Bucs coach who said I like you until I can replace you or something like that?
if Brady is lucky he’ll be like Manning and at least go to a good team. He could end up like Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas and so many other greats who unlike Plummer just couldn’t give it up.
January 28th, 2015 at 6:20 pm
I always liked that guy, and surely would have loved to have seen him play here. I am glad to hear that it wasn’t because he didn’t want to play specifically for Tampa or for Gruden/Allen…..Alas, what could have been!
January 28th, 2015 at 6:22 pm
FYI – Named my Son after Jake Plumber.
I think it was in either 1997 or 1998 when the bucs made the playoffs because Jake Plumber knocked some team out in order for the bucs to get in.
At that moment I said I would name my son Jake.
January 28th, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Its funny, at the time all I heard was local media screaming how no-one like playing for Coach Gruden. And this was an example of why Coach Gruden should be fired!
January 28th, 2015 at 6:34 pm
Jake the snake.
January 28th, 2015 at 6:35 pm
“I really think that’s what happened to JFro. It wasn’t Schiano, drugs, or any of the other stuff. I think JFro simply lost the fire in his belly.”
Alas we agree SPBF.
January 28th, 2015 at 6:44 pm
anyone worked out who denver used that pick on?
January 28th, 2015 at 6:52 pm
I most remember him for not playing a snap as a Buc. Retired after refusing to play here. If you think about all the people who DIDN’T play here (or coach here) when offered or acquired, we’d have had a lot more success as a franchise. Disheartening, really.
January 28th, 2015 at 7:14 pm
“Who knows what could have happened in Tampa? It wasn’t because of anything — not the team, the owners or the coaches. [Not playing] was because Jake Plummer was done playing ball.”
This can’t be? People on message boards told me that Plummer retired BECAUSE he didn’t want to play for an egomaniacal tyrant with a Napoleon complex!
January 28th, 2015 at 7:16 pm
Peyton fricking Hllis. The Broncos got Peyton Hillis with the pick the Bucs traded for Plummer. Tis a Bucs life!
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9469696
January 28th, 2015 at 8:36 pm
Oh Gawd! Really?!!!
January 28th, 2015 at 9:00 pm
You do realize he was coaching the QBs for the Sandpoint Bulldogs whole “in seclusion” He was very comfortable here, and we Love him for not only what he did, but for who he is! I know a couple of people who are Very close to Jake, and there are few better guys. I guess my point is that he was in no way Hiding,.. just went back to his idea of life outside of football! Oh,.. I would have LOVED to have had him come to the BUCS! 🙂 Dan from Sandpoint Id.
January 28th, 2015 at 11:00 pm
Great interview Joe(s). Thank you!
January 28th, 2015 at 11:43 pm
That was a good interview choice. I would like to add he is a pothead and admitted to being a pothead in previous interviews. Possible he wanted to smoke out more than ball out. Regardless, I was pissed he didn’t play here.
January 28th, 2015 at 11:54 pm
Jake sounds like a cool dude that has his head on straight in life. It sucks that the Bucs lost a 6th round pick and got nothing in return, but i think it’s still better than trading away a #1 pick to get one year out of a player before cutting him.
January 29th, 2015 at 2:05 am
@joe – thanks, truly, for this one. This one bugged me for years.
I was one always thought a lot of Jake Plummer’s skills, was also one of those who didn’t believe Plummer would/could walk away from playing a game he loved for someone who could have made it fun for him again – and was willing to pull out the checkbook to prove he believed in him!? I just refused to believe Plummer wouldn’t take a chance on Gruden…probably because I’d never known anyone who just walked away from something they loved and left opportunity and money on the table…just because “…it was time”.
I even thought that whole “…he faxed his retirement papers in…but he didn’t SIGN the retirement papers…” was PROOF that Plummer was ACTUALLY coming to play for Jon Gruden! Reality only sunk in s-l-o-w-l-y, then again…we were heading into the season with Jeff Garcia and Bruce Gradkowski. I’m not sure if Plummer would have faired any better in THAT season’s 1st round playoff loss (that’s the year we pulled NY Giants in the playoff’s and THEY won the Super Bowl)..but I’d like to think a bigger mobile QB might have made the difference?
I’ve learned since the loss of Plummer, that no matter how good you are, or how much you enjoy a job, there are people who simply enjoy making life miserable for you…and that there is an absolute limit on the amount of abuse you’ll endure to continue doing..anything…even something you love.
At any rate…thanks for completing the circle on this one @joe – cool that Plummer came out of his shell with you – and that you shared it!
January 29th, 2015 at 2:49 am
Sad story, but good read…Thanks for sharing stuff like this, Joe.
January 29th, 2015 at 11:02 am
jo_mama Says:
January 28th, 2015 at 6:22 pm
FYI – Named my Son after Jake Plumber.
I think it was in either 1997 or 1998 when the bucs made the playoffs because Jake Plumber knocked some team out in order for the bucs to get in.
At that moment I said I would name my son Jake.
———-
Wow, you realize his name is “Jake PLUMMER”, right? I hope you named your kid “Jake” and not “Plumber”…because a plumber is a person that works on sewage and water pipes.
It had to be 1997, because the Bucs didn’t make the playoffs in 98.
January 29th, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Peyton Hillis, who I like, shined briefly in Denver and Cleveland and was actually here two years ago but Schiano let him go so he could keep his Rutgers running back. He now is third string for the Giants.
Hillis was allegedly let go for having after game seminars and tutoring sessions with the wife of the Broncos owner.
Such is the old adage, “don’t s$&t where you eat.”