skineg
05-26-2006, 08:56 AM
DENVER -- Mike Shanahan is backing up his quarterback's version in his alleged road rage incident but says Jake Plummer still needs to take the high road when he finds his blood starting to boil.
"It's anybody in this organization, including myself," the Denver Broncos coach said Thursday. "But we also know that the quarterback, the head coach and the owner are usually the guys that people are keeping their eyes on the most. And that's just the nature of the job.
"And regardless of what city you are in, especially in Denver, when you're considered a leader, you know that you're going to be scrutinized very closely."
Police issued Plummer a summons for allegedly kicking the headlight of a pickup and then backing his SUV into the pickup.
Plummer acknowledged cutting off the pickup, driven by 47-year-old Douglas Stone of Denver, but said he waved and apologized. Plummer said he got out of his SUV only after Stone blared his horn and then tapped the bumper of Plummer's SUV with his pickup.
Plummer, who said he was in a hurry because he was on his way to give a check to charity, denied cursing at Stone, kicking his bumper or backing into him.
"There's two different stories," Shanahan said. "So we are going to have to let the process take care of it."
Shanahan said he would be upset if someone honked and bumped his car at a traffic light.
"But you've got to take the high road. And you're in a position that even though it's tough to do sometimes and you're very competitive you've got to handle yourself the right way," he said.
Shanahan said he has no reason to doubt Plummer.
"One thing about Jake is he is one of the most honest guys I've ever been around," Shanahan said.
"Like all players, like all competitors, there are going to be situations that happen that you wish you kept your poise a little more," he said.
Plummer's behavior has drawn the spotlight before in his three years as Denver's quarterback. He flashed an obscene gesture at a heckler in 2004; he called a columnist and criticized Denver fans last year after the columnist identified his girlfriend. He later apologized.
On Wednesday, Plummer said he's not a hothead with an anger management problem.
Shanahan agreed that the incidents involving Plummer are isolated and don't present a pattern that overly concerns the organization.
Shanahan said he's had to learn to control his own temper, so he has some experience to draw from.
"It was a learning experience for me as a young coach coming in because you're very competitive. You want to fight and you want to fight. And you want to compete," he said. "Somebody is calling you names and all of a sudden, you can't do it. You can't flip somebody off even though you'd like to."
He said he told his quarterback that he's had to bite his tongue on many occasions in public.
"I've been called a few things in a few different restaurants. I know it's tough sometimes. Especially in California. More so than Denver. In that Oakland area, we won't get into detail," Shanahan said.
While Shanahan would like to see Plummer have a longer fuse off the field, he doesn't mind his quarterback getting his hackles up on the field.
"Take a look at John Elway and the way he handled himself on the field. He would yank a few face masks if guys weren't stepping up. The same thing with Steve Young, Joe Montana," Shanahan said. "Everybody has a little different personality off the field. I like the way Jake has handled himself in a lot of situations."
--- That's awesome.
"It's anybody in this organization, including myself," the Denver Broncos coach said Thursday. "But we also know that the quarterback, the head coach and the owner are usually the guys that people are keeping their eyes on the most. And that's just the nature of the job.
"And regardless of what city you are in, especially in Denver, when you're considered a leader, you know that you're going to be scrutinized very closely."
Police issued Plummer a summons for allegedly kicking the headlight of a pickup and then backing his SUV into the pickup.
Plummer acknowledged cutting off the pickup, driven by 47-year-old Douglas Stone of Denver, but said he waved and apologized. Plummer said he got out of his SUV only after Stone blared his horn and then tapped the bumper of Plummer's SUV with his pickup.
Plummer, who said he was in a hurry because he was on his way to give a check to charity, denied cursing at Stone, kicking his bumper or backing into him.
"There's two different stories," Shanahan said. "So we are going to have to let the process take care of it."
Shanahan said he would be upset if someone honked and bumped his car at a traffic light.
"But you've got to take the high road. And you're in a position that even though it's tough to do sometimes and you're very competitive you've got to handle yourself the right way," he said.
Shanahan said he has no reason to doubt Plummer.
"One thing about Jake is he is one of the most honest guys I've ever been around," Shanahan said.
"Like all players, like all competitors, there are going to be situations that happen that you wish you kept your poise a little more," he said.
Plummer's behavior has drawn the spotlight before in his three years as Denver's quarterback. He flashed an obscene gesture at a heckler in 2004; he called a columnist and criticized Denver fans last year after the columnist identified his girlfriend. He later apologized.
On Wednesday, Plummer said he's not a hothead with an anger management problem.
Shanahan agreed that the incidents involving Plummer are isolated and don't present a pattern that overly concerns the organization.
Shanahan said he's had to learn to control his own temper, so he has some experience to draw from.
"It was a learning experience for me as a young coach coming in because you're very competitive. You want to fight and you want to fight. And you want to compete," he said. "Somebody is calling you names and all of a sudden, you can't do it. You can't flip somebody off even though you'd like to."
He said he told his quarterback that he's had to bite his tongue on many occasions in public.
"I've been called a few things in a few different restaurants. I know it's tough sometimes. Especially in California. More so than Denver. In that Oakland area, we won't get into detail," Shanahan said.
While Shanahan would like to see Plummer have a longer fuse off the field, he doesn't mind his quarterback getting his hackles up on the field.
"Take a look at John Elway and the way he handled himself on the field. He would yank a few face masks if guys weren't stepping up. The same thing with Steve Young, Joe Montana," Shanahan said. "Everybody has a little different personality off the field. I like the way Jake has handled himself in a lot of situations."
--- That's awesome.