Florida_Bronco
01-01-2007, 02:00 PM
Thought I'd post it up here.
Plummer's Broncos days end
By Mike Klis and Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writers
DenverPost.com
Article Last Updated:12/31/2006 11:14:07 PM MST
Jake Plummer came in and played just long enough to say goodbye.
The Broncos' starting quarterback the past three seasons and 11 games into a fourth, Plummer has told teammates and friends he won't be back next season serving as mentor to Jay Cutler.
Plummer wouldn't speak about his situation after the game, but he did shake hands with several teammates as he left the locker room in a manner dripping with finality.
Although Broncos coach Mike Shanahan left open the possibility of having his veteran quarterback return next season, Plummer most likely will seek a starting job elsewhere.
The Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings are two possibilities. There is also the possibility Plummer may call it a 10-year, NFL career if he doesn't find a match.
But either way, Plummer is finished with the Broncos. He's probably not the only one after the Broncos fell short of the playoffs.
"This is a business, we all have to understand that," Broncos tight end Stephen Alexander said. "There's no guarantees. There are no guarantees for anybody. Who knows if I'll be back here next year. I could have just played my last game for the Broncos, you never know."
In his last game with the Broncos, Plummer came in for an injured Cutler in the second quarter. On his first play, Plummer handed off to Mike Bell, who gained 46 yards to the San Francisco 3-yard line.
Plummer passed two times, one of which was intercepted, and Cutler went back in for the second half.
1,000 yards to nowhere
Although Broncos running back Tatum Bell crossed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career, he hardly felt like a player who had reached his personal goal Sunday evening.
Bell fumbled for the third consecutive game and again gave way to Mike Bell in the latter part of the game.
"A thousand yards don't mean anything right now," Tatum Bell said. "I played a terrible game. When they needed me most, I didn't come through."
Elam tops off best season
Making all three field goals from the near-automatic distances of 22, 21 and 22 yards, Jason Elam finished the season making 27-of-29 field goals for a career-best .931 field-goal percentage. However, he was edged for the NFL accuracy title by Baltimore's Matt Stover, who made all four field goals Sunday against Buffalo to finish 28-of-30 for a .933 percentage.
2007 schedule
The Broncos, who finished third in the AFC West, have their schedule for next season. The dates and times of the game will be released in April.
Denver's home games in 2007 will be Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Green Bay and Minnesota. On the road, Denver will go to the AFC West teams, Buffalo, Houston, Indianapolis, Chicago and Detroit.
Draft order
Denver is expected to have the No. 19 pick in the April draft.
Brown opportunistic
After getting positive preliminary medical reports on his surgically repaired knee, defensive end Courtney Brown is hopeful he will be able to play next season. When Brown had surgery earlier this season, it appeared that his career likely was over.
"I'm entering the second stage of rehabilitation," Brown said Sunday. "The doctors are optimistic and they think it's better than we first thought. I haven't started running yet, but it looks like I may have a chance."
To be signed
The Broncos are expected to sign 12 players to reserve-future contracts as soon as today, when the signing period begins.
Herrion remembered
Sunday's game was the first visit to Invesco Field for the 49ers since the death of offensive lineman Thomas Herrion after an Aug. 21, 2005, preseason game.
Herrion, a first-year pro from Utah, collapsed after the 26-21 Broncos victory and was pronounced dead at 11:18 p.m. at a Denver hospital from a heart attack, approximately one hour after the game.
Denver finished the season with an NFL-low 67 penalties, its fewest in a 16-game season. ... For the first time in 11 seasons, safety John Lynch didn't have an interception. ... Rookie tight end Tony Scheffler started his second straight game. ... Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper was on the sideline before the game.
Plummer's Broncos days end
By Mike Klis and Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writers
DenverPost.com
Article Last Updated:12/31/2006 11:14:07 PM MST
Jake Plummer came in and played just long enough to say goodbye.
The Broncos' starting quarterback the past three seasons and 11 games into a fourth, Plummer has told teammates and friends he won't be back next season serving as mentor to Jay Cutler.
Plummer wouldn't speak about his situation after the game, but he did shake hands with several teammates as he left the locker room in a manner dripping with finality.
Although Broncos coach Mike Shanahan left open the possibility of having his veteran quarterback return next season, Plummer most likely will seek a starting job elsewhere.
The Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings are two possibilities. There is also the possibility Plummer may call it a 10-year, NFL career if he doesn't find a match.
But either way, Plummer is finished with the Broncos. He's probably not the only one after the Broncos fell short of the playoffs.
"This is a business, we all have to understand that," Broncos tight end Stephen Alexander said. "There's no guarantees. There are no guarantees for anybody. Who knows if I'll be back here next year. I could have just played my last game for the Broncos, you never know."
In his last game with the Broncos, Plummer came in for an injured Cutler in the second quarter. On his first play, Plummer handed off to Mike Bell, who gained 46 yards to the San Francisco 3-yard line.
Plummer passed two times, one of which was intercepted, and Cutler went back in for the second half.
1,000 yards to nowhere
Although Broncos running back Tatum Bell crossed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career, he hardly felt like a player who had reached his personal goal Sunday evening.
Bell fumbled for the third consecutive game and again gave way to Mike Bell in the latter part of the game.
"A thousand yards don't mean anything right now," Tatum Bell said. "I played a terrible game. When they needed me most, I didn't come through."
Elam tops off best season
Making all three field goals from the near-automatic distances of 22, 21 and 22 yards, Jason Elam finished the season making 27-of-29 field goals for a career-best .931 field-goal percentage. However, he was edged for the NFL accuracy title by Baltimore's Matt Stover, who made all four field goals Sunday against Buffalo to finish 28-of-30 for a .933 percentage.
2007 schedule
The Broncos, who finished third in the AFC West, have their schedule for next season. The dates and times of the game will be released in April.
Denver's home games in 2007 will be Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Green Bay and Minnesota. On the road, Denver will go to the AFC West teams, Buffalo, Houston, Indianapolis, Chicago and Detroit.
Draft order
Denver is expected to have the No. 19 pick in the April draft.
Brown opportunistic
After getting positive preliminary medical reports on his surgically repaired knee, defensive end Courtney Brown is hopeful he will be able to play next season. When Brown had surgery earlier this season, it appeared that his career likely was over.
"I'm entering the second stage of rehabilitation," Brown said Sunday. "The doctors are optimistic and they think it's better than we first thought. I haven't started running yet, but it looks like I may have a chance."
To be signed
The Broncos are expected to sign 12 players to reserve-future contracts as soon as today, when the signing period begins.
Herrion remembered
Sunday's game was the first visit to Invesco Field for the 49ers since the death of offensive lineman Thomas Herrion after an Aug. 21, 2005, preseason game.
Herrion, a first-year pro from Utah, collapsed after the 26-21 Broncos victory and was pronounced dead at 11:18 p.m. at a Denver hospital from a heart attack, approximately one hour after the game.
Denver finished the season with an NFL-low 67 penalties, its fewest in a 16-game season. ... For the first time in 11 seasons, safety John Lynch didn't have an interception. ... Rookie tight end Tony Scheffler started his second straight game. ... Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper was on the sideline before the game.