There is nothing like tough times to foster perspective.
These are tough times for Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer. He is no longer the Broncos’ quarterback. He is now the Broncos’ backup quarterback to Jay Cutler.
In times like these, perhaps Plummer, who did not speak to reporters Monday, can heed his previous philosophical statements about how others are at war, or starving, or disabled. Life could be worse, in other words.
“We know we have the best backup quarterback in the league, right now,” said Champ Bailey, the Broncos’ star cornerback. “Everybody wants to be so negative about it they forget there’s a positive side.”
For the first time in his career, Plummer has been demoted. From the eighth game of his rookie season with Arizona in 1997 until the Broncos’ next game Sunday night against Seattle Seahawks, Plummer has been regarded as a No. 1 NFL quarterback.
Perhaps, Plummer and his supporters have reason to gripe about how the entire football world knew he was going to be benched before Shanahan told him in person Monday. But again, life could be much worse.
By the end of his fourth season here, Plummer will have collected $21.8 million from the Broncos. For that kind of loot, Plummer might run out water cups during timeouts if the team asked. As it is, he’s going to continue holding for kicker Jason Elam on extra points and field goals.
“These days, with all the insiders that are out there, (secrets) don’t seem to make it as long as they’re supposed to make it,” said John Lynch, the Broncos’ safety.
This wasn’t a case of the players gathering around in a team huddle and Shanahan announcing a quarterback switch. Shanahan didn’t do that when Adam Meadows replaced George Foster at right tackle, and in this regard, quarterback is no more important than the other 21 positions on the team.
Instead, the players figured it out Monday afternoon when Cutler ran plays with the first-team offense. In general, players hardly were surprised by the news Plummer had lost his job.
“One of the first things they told me was, ‘Once you get here, they have somebody else ready to replace you,'” said Darrent Williams, the Broncos’ second-year cornerback. “This is a business. You better go out there and perform. Jay Cutler, that’s what they got him for. Every other first-round (quarterback) pick is playing right now. Jake was struggling and it’s time for the Jay Cutler era.”
There may be reason to feel empathy for Plummer. He had a 39-18 regular-season record for the Broncos. He led them to the AFC championship game just last season. And it was obvious that he cared more about his teammates than public popularity.
“Jake’s the type of guy who you love him if he’s your quarterback and you love him if he’s not your quarterback,” said Broncos receiver Javon Walker.
In part because there is no more guaranteed money remaining on Plummer’s contract after this season, it’s highly unlikely he will be wearing a Broncos uniform next season, although Shanahan did offer the No. 2 option Monday.
“I think it all depends on him,” Shanahan said. “Would I like him here long term? As long as he would like to be here. He is a winner and he has done a lot of good things for us and I would love him in that role if he wants to be in that role.’
There were many reasons for the quarterback switch. Television viewers might be surprised to learn irreconcilable differences between Plummer and Shanahan apparently weren’t among them. In almost every game this season, Plummer and Shanahan engaged in an animated disagreement on the sidelines.
Last week, Plummer said those talks are not as bad as they look, and he never took them personally.
“Jake and I are completely fine,” Shanahan said. “That’s two competitors in the heat of battle. One of the things I love about Jake is he’s a guy where things like that go in one ear and out the other. And you go on. That’s what men do.”
Lucky thing, because Plummer and Shanahan are about to spend all kinds of sideline time together.
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
