In times likes these, Jake Plummer doesn’t have to read the newspaper, watch the TV newscasts or listen to sports-talk radio.
He can feel it anyway.
No matter how insulated Plummer may keep himself from outside communication, he knows his play as Broncos quarterback has been topic for discussion the past two weeks. That’s the thing about heat – it doesn’t have to be seen or heard to be felt.
“When I’m playing bad, even if Jay Cutler wasn’t here, there would be heat,” Plummer said Wednesday. “Let’s be realistic. And since Jay’s here, people want to throw in a rookie who hasn’t taken an NFL snap and put him ahead of me. What can I do about that? Play better.”
Like last season, Plummer is off to a rough start. He has zero touchdown passes and four interceptions, and his 38.6 passer rating ranks him 30th among NFL quarterbacks after two games. To Plummer’s supporters and many seasoned objective observers who have been through the old guy-new guy debates, the most significant stat is the two games.
“You guys were writing the same thing about him last year after the Miami game,” New England coach Bill Belichick told Denver-area media on Wednesday. “I wouldn’t overreact to one play or one pass or one game. They were 13-3, playing further in the playoffs than we were. I wouldn’t overreact. They’re both good players. We have to be ready for both of them.”
Now, wait a minute. First he praises Plummer, then stirs it up by saying the Patriots have to get ready for Cutler, too.
Jimmy Johnson was more direct on Sunday.
Johnson, who coached Dallas to consecutive Super Bowl titles in the 1992 and 1993 seasons, is now an NFL analyst for Fox. Johnson said he never liked Plummer and he’d start Cutler.
“I have no idea what he said and I don’t care to know,” Plummer said. “What I would say to him is: ‘Your hair looks good.”‘
Just another example of how Plummer doesn’t have to directly hear the complaints about his early play to have an idea about what people are saying.
“They do those little polls?” Plummer said. “That does nothing to me. I’m glad people have opinions. Our world wouldn’t be as great if people didn’t have opinions. I think they should have opinions on more important things, but that’s for another day.”
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
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