Given that former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer has a Paul Bunyon-size ax to grind, it's no surprise that his criticism of former coach Mike Shanahan is sharp in "Shanny Firing Was 'Past Due,'" a Mike Klis piece in today's Denver Post. But arguably more interesting than the Snake's sense that Shanahan, the man who benched him in 2006 even though the team had a 7-4 record at the time, "had done what he could do and was just tapped out" are his comments about current QB Jay Cutler, which are buried deep in the piece. "He's a great quarterback, don't get me wrong," Plummer said. "I'm not saying anything to disrespect him. I think he's a helluva player. But Jeff George was a helluva player."
Ooof. George, pictured, is one of those guys who's sometimes described as having a million-dollar arm and a ten-cent head. He hasn't played an NFL game since 2001, but he was still arguing that he could help teams as recently as last November. Trouble is, his laser-beam throws seldom translated into victories. In twelve NFL seasons playing for five franchises (the Indianapolis Colts, the Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Redskins, the Minnesota Vikings and the Oakland Raiders), he had a winning record just three times.
Of course, Plummer's noggin may not have been worth a lot more than George's -- but he was 40-18 as a Broncos starter, whereas Cutler is 17-20. Heaven forbid that Jake's got a point.
