Plummer: 'I'm not a robot'

Updated: December 17, 2004, 6:39 PM ET

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Associated Press

DENVER -- Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer was fined $5,000 by the NFL on Friday for making an obscene gesture during last week's game against Miami.

Jake Plummer Quarterback Denver Broncos
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2004 SEASON STATISTICS
Att	Comp	PaTD	RuTD	Int	Rat
424	242	22	0	17	82.2

Plummer and coach Mike Shanahan refused comment. Plummer apologized after the game, and during interviews Wednesday admitted he wasn't perfect and promised he'd never make the same mistake again.

"I'm not a robot. I'm a man that has warm blood and sometimes it gets hot in there running through my veins," Plummer said. "You know people do things that they regret. As long as you can learn a lesson from it and stand up and be a man about what your actions were and move on, that's the true lesson you learn from it."

Plummer reached his hand behind his helmet and made the gesture when he reached the bench after throwing a first-quarter interception in the 20-17 win over the Dolphins.

The much-maligned quarterback has thrown six picks and no touchdowns in Denver's last two games. His 17 interceptions this season are the second most in the NFL.

Denver is 8-5, tied with Baltimore for the AFC's final playoff spot, with a game Sunday at Kansas City.

Despite Plummer's troubles, both Shanahan and owner Pat Bowlen said this week that the Broncos intend to keep the quarterback for the long term. To keep him, they must pay a $6 million roster bonus in the upcoming offseason.

Plummer's actions stirred a debate in Denver over whether the Broncos should fine Plummer and whether his indiscretion was a sign he lacks the composure to lead the team deep into the playoffs.

Earlier in the week, Shanahan applauded Plummer's fire but said all players need to keep their cool during a game, even if they're being heckled.

"I think Jake understands that this game is very tough on the quarterback," coach Mike Shanahan said. "You work your way through it. If you're mentally tough enough, you survive. If not, you acquiesce and you're gone."