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Promise keepers Plummer leaves Denver without deal, but he'll likely be backPosted: Monday March 03, 2003 11:46 PM
The Denver Broncos let free-agent quarterback Jake Plummer get away on Monday -- but probably not for long. After visiting the Mile High City, Plummer left Denver bound for Chicago and visit to the Bears on Monday night. But don't read that as an indication that the Broncos are no longer the overwhelming favorites to sign the former Arizona Cardinal. Plummer is merely keeping a promise to visit the Bears, the second and only other team he is currently considering in free agency. "As a businessman, it's a chance to go out and explore a little bit and to keep my word with Chicago," said Plummer, who expects to return home to Arizona and reach a decision regarding his new team some time this week. "I have to go make this trip. It's an attractive situation. It will help me to see what else is out there. "To be fair to myself, to be fair to my family, and to fulfill and check out this other option is not saying I won't be here. It's just saying that I want to go check things out.'' Plummer, free agency's top-rated quarterback, said he's eager to make his decision in order to get acclimated to his new surroundings and new team. Although Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis has said recently that he still expects his team to have an opportunity to bid for Plummer, there's no indication that Arizona remains in the picture. "It's just here, Chicago, then back home," said Plummer, when asked if he has any plans to visit Carolina, which also is shopping for a starting quarterback. "These are the only two teams right now. You know how free agency is. Something could happen where another one joins, but it's very doubtful right now." While the Broncos were hopeful of striking a deal with Plummer on Monday, pre-empting his trip to Chicago, Plummer certainly sounded like he was already starting to think of himself as the successor to Denver starter Brian Griese. "It's a very, very good situation, very attractive," Plummer said. "The opportunity to take this team to the level they want to get to is a very attractive situation … They said they want me here. They believe with me here that they can go another four years making the playoffs. "… You can tell their goal is to be in the Super bowl, not just to make the playoffs. I've spent six years where the playoffs would be a great goal. Now, coming here, the expectations are to be in the Super Bowl. That's what I want to do." Plummer's eagerness for a fresh start even extends to characterizing money as no object to striking a deal with Denver. "I'm already pretty financially set with what I've gotten there [in Arizona]," Plummer said. "For me, it's winning. Obviously the money will be there, but right the winning part is what I want to look at, which team is going to make that push, make that commitment to do anything and everything possible. Right now, these guys here, the Broncos, are showing me that's what they're geared for."
Around the league
Saints officials are publicly saying that if they don't get their asking price met by anyone, they'll keep Turley, move him back to his previous right tackle slot, and let him play out the final year of his contract. But that's just trading market posturing, designed to make somebody come after him with their best shot. New Orleans is said to be asking for a first-round draft pick, but again that's thought to be just for show. In reality, Turley can probably be had for the highest second-round pick thrown at the Saints. New Orleans, which has two first-round choices this year (No. 17 and 18), courtesy of the Ricky Williams trade with Miami last year, would like to obtain a high second-round pick and use it as part of a package to move up and take an impact player in the draft's top 10. Four teams are said to be seriously discussing a trade for Turley, and the Saints believe they'll have some choices to pick from. Teams believed to be interested include Houston, St. Louis, and Denver, with Jacksonville and San Diego also possibilities. Others say the Texans aren't pursuing a trade for Turley, but a Saints official confirmed recently that they have called to broach the subject. Saints head coach Jim Haslett is known to be eager to move Turley, whose act he tired of this season. With Gandy on board, to go with holdovers Spencer Folau and Victor Riley, the Saints have no intention of bringing Turley back and creating a log-jam of four potential starters at tackle.
Alas, the rumor was shot down by a Bucs official as having been made up from whole cloth. The team official said at this time there was absolutely no plan to pursue Smith. In a perhaps related incident, Bucs head coach Jon Gruden traveled to Dallas on Monday to take part in a scheduled event of some sort with Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber. Did Gruden's trip spark Monday evening's bogus report? Who knows, but that's usually how these things work. Don Banks covers pro football for SI.com |
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