Wanted man

New Bronco Plummer thrilled Denver interest was mutual

Shanahan to visit Beuerlein DENVER (AP) -- Denver quarterback Steve Beuerlein has considered ending his career after 16 seasons. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is looking to change his mind. Shanahan said he plans to fly to Charlotte on Friday to talk with Beuerlein and his wife about coming back for at least one more year. "I can't tell you for sure what direction he's going to go, but I'd like him back here," Shanahan said Thursday. "He's a class act. He's a great football player. But until I sit down and talk to him personally, I can't tell you for sure." Beuerlein spent most of the 2002 as a backup to Brian Griese, but he did start the final game against Arizona after Griese was benched. Beuerlein said at the end of the season he would need some time to decide whether he wants to go through another season. The Broncos are expected to release Griese by June 1 to save money on the salary cap and have given him permission to talk with other teams about a trade. That seemed to open the door for Beuerlein to become the starter next season, but the signing of Jake Plummer on Thursday made it clear the Broncos will want Beuerlein to continue as a backup -- a role he might not want at age 38. Shanahan also said he didn't know if tight end Shannon Sharpe will return for a 14th season, but the signing of Plummer might lure Sharpe back. "I know how excited Shannon will be," Shanahan said. "He's a guy with a lot of confidence, he knows given time he's going to get open. Like the rest of our guys, we're excited to get started and I'm sure Shannon will have a few quotes in the next few days."

DENVER (AP) -- In the closing seconds of Denver's final game of 2002, Broncos fans began a chant of "We want Jake!"

Jake Plummer was still in an Arizona Cardinals uniform at the time, but he couldn't hide from his thoughts.

"They were chanting 'We want Jake!' and I was thinking in my head, 'I want you,' " Plummer said.

Both got their wish on Thursday, when Plummer signed a seven-year, $40 million contract to take over as Denver's starting quarterback.

"I really couldn't voice that opinion at the time -- a lot of things had to happen in order for this to come to," Plummer said. "But you think back to Dec. 29 and now it's March 6, it's been a long wait, a very anxious waiting time. And I'm ready."

Denver also signed defensive tackle Daryl Gardener to a six-year, $33 million, filling the hole left by the release of Chester McGlockton last week.

The Broncos decided to pursue Plummer and Gardener early in the free-agency process and moved quickly to sign both.

"We had two guys targeted," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "Very seldom do you get the two guys you want in free agency."

Not since John Elway retired have the Broncos had a quarterback who can make plays on the run and pull out late victories.

The Broncos believe Plummer fills both needs.

Elway was known for his scrambling ability and leading the Broncos to 47 fourth-quarter comebacks, most in league history, before retiring after winning the Super Bowl in 1999.

Elway's replacement, Brian Griese, was chastised because he couldn't do either.

Although inconsistent during his six seasons with Arizona, Plummer can turn broken plays into gains and rally his team to late wins. Elway needed 16 seasons to reach his total, but Plummer already has 21 comeback wins.

"Obviously, Elway's record and what he's done here speaks for itself," Plummer said. "If I can do half of what he did, it would be very nice."

The Broncos will take it, too.

Denver took Griese in the third round of the 1998 draft with the hope he could fill Elway's shoes. It didn't work out.

Griese went to the Pro Bowl in 2000, but struggled with inconsistency the past two seasons. Worse yet, Griese was just 27-24 as a starter and the Broncos have missed the playoffs three of the past four years -- unacceptable for a team that is used to winning Super Bowls.

The Broncos have indicated they will release Griese on June 1 to save salary-cap space and have given him permission to seek a trade.

"It just didn't work out and we had to move in a different direction," Shanahan said. "I think it was the best thing for him and I think it was the best thing for us."

But signing Plummer isn't risk-free.

Plummer, 28, hasn't exactly lit up the league. He led the Cardinals to their first playoff win since 1947 in his first full year as a starter in 1998, but has been plagued by poor decisions and inconsistency since.

Plummer has thrown 114 interceptions in 82 career starts and is coming off a subpar 2002 season in which his 65.7 passer rating was among the worst in the league among starters.

The Broncos hope that by working with Shanahan and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, both known for developing quarterbacks, Plummer will reach his full potential.

"I'm ready to come into this situation and reverse that trend as best I can," Plummer said. "And that's my full goal. The past is the past."

Gardener's past includes back problems that limited him to eight games in 2001.

After spending his first six seasons with Miami, the Dolphins cut Gardener just before training camp last season, partly out of concern his back wouldn't hold up.

Gardener signed with Washington and had one of the best seasons of his career, leading the Redskins' defensive line with 71 tackles and four sacks.

"This back will hold up and everything has been going well. I haven't been having any problems," Gardener said. "If I'm not playing the way I am supposed to be playing, get rid of me. Kick me to the curb."

 

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