Upon retiring in March 2007, he held a press conference at the Denver Athletic Club. Jake Plummer never went to Tampa Bay, of course, just as he never offered his services to any other NFL team. As he did, he couldn't help but notice that, under the table, Allen had extended his fist to Gruden, who gleefully tapped it with his.Īnthony Hargrove remains in football exile years after Bountygate scandal Plummer looked at the two men, considered the offer and said, 'That sounds sweet, man.' Then he took a swig of his beer. And then the kicker: Sign with us, Gruden whispered, and we'll donate a million dollars to your Alzheimer's foundation.

Come to Florida, he said, and you'll be the hero you could never be in Denver in the shadow of John Elway. Join us in Tampa Bay, he said, and with our defense and your leadership we'll have a shot at the Big One. In doing so, Plummer not only walked away from the game in his prime-he'd led the Broncos to the AFC Championship Game a season earlier-but also turned down the $5.3 million he would've earned during the 2007 season. Two months earlier the Buccaneers had made a trade with the Broncos for the rights to Plummer, even though he had announced that he was retiring from the NFL at age 32. By and by, Gruden and Allen made their pitch. Beers were consumed, pizzas were ordered.

Gruden rose and mustered all of his considerable charm, pumping Jake's hand and telling him how excited he, Jon Gruden, guru of quarterbacks, was to sit down and talk football with Jake Plummer, the ultimate gunslinger.

Ten minutes later Jake Plummer and his wife, Kollette, walked in. the duo walked into Capone's, a sports bar in Coeur d'Alene where people gather to watch Broncos games, play pool and drink $3 Molsons. His traveling partner was Bruce Allen, the Bucs' general manager, and they carried with them two footballs and a pair of new cleats. There he rented a car and drove 44 miles east to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

In the summer of 2007 Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden flew seven hours from Tampa to Spokane.

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