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PLUMMER OPTS NOT TO WEAR TILLMAN DECAL
October 13, 2004
By Bill Williamson - Denver Post Staff Writer
Jake Plummer will continue to honor the memory of his close friend. It just won't be visible on game day.
After losing a debate with the NFL to continue to honor his former teammate Pat Tillman, the Broncos' quarterback said Thursday he will abide by the decision. Plummer had thought about wearing a decal on the back of his helmet regardless of the NFL's decision but decided against it.
"I'm not going to fight it; it's not worth it," Plummer said. "I think about Pat every day and I do other things to honor him every day."
Tillman, who shunned his NFL career to join the Army in 2002, was killed in action in April in Afghanistan.
Plummer said he would be fined $20,000 if he wore Tillman's No. 40 decal at Tampa Bay on Sunday and that it would trigger a $10,000 fine because he wore it last week against San Diego.
The fine for the Chargers' game will be dropped if he doesn't wear the decal against the Buccaneers, Plummer said.
Plummer said he thought it better to stop wearing the decal and take the potential fines and donate that to the Pat Tillman Foundation, to which he already contributes. NFL fine money also goes to charity.
Plummer had hoped a meeting between his agent and the league would help come to a compromise with Plummer being able to pay tribute to Tillman somewhere on his uniform.
However, an NFL spokesman said this week the NFL would not change its policy that prohibits personal messages on uniforms or helmets.
The NFL had every player wear the decal on his helmet in Week 2, and allows the Arizona Cardinals to wear the decal all season. Plummer was planning to wear it all season. He played with Tillman at Arizona State and with the Cardinals.
Plummer said he is not bitter toward the NFL for the decision.
"They have their rights," Plummer said.