Plummer Still Stands Behind Comments on Team Character

Chargers linebacker Gary Plummer still wasn’t naming names, but he continued his assault Monday on teammates who refused to play with pain.

Plummer said his comments, which came after Sunday night’s 9-7 loss to the Raiders, were not made in frustration.

“I feel exactly the same way,” he said. “I don’t say things out of anger without thinking first. Ninety-five percent of the guys on this team know what it takes to play in this league.

“You’re going to be injured. That’s part of your responsibility as a professional football player. If you wanted to play a non-contact sport, you should have played baseball. Go on (injured reserve) if you have a dislocated finger for six weeks like they do.”

Although he is only talking about three or four players, Plummer said their inability to play through pain was significant in Sunday’s loss.

“You can’t tell me that in a game that was 9-7, three or four guys couldn’t have made a difference,” he said.

Chargers Coach Dan Henning said Plummer’s tirade, termed an act of frustration, was inappropriate.

“The first thing he should do is take care of his own business,” Henning said. “Each man has his own threshold of pain and each position is different. What Gary might be able to play with, a guy at another position might not be able to.

“If Gary feels that way, he should go to those players without passing out innuendo in a public forum. It serves no purpose.”

But Henning says that is not Plummer’s judgment to make. Henning said he once questioned running back Rod Bernstine’s level of pain and admits it was a mistake.

“Certainly, a quarterback couldn’t play with his throwing hand hurt, whereas Gary played with a broken thumb,” he said. “A defensive lineman with a slight hamstring pull can probably play because he never gets into that mode where he’s full out running the way a wide receiver could.”

Linebacker Billy Ray Smith, who played with an injured knee, back and ankle this season, said Plummer’s pain threshold is abnormally high and shouldn’t be compared to others.

Plummer has played much of the season with a pinched nerve in his neck and a broken thumb, but he has not missed a game and is second on the team in tackles.

“Gary is without a doubt one of the toughest guys I’ve ever played with,” Smith said. “He breaks his hand and says, ‘Put a bandage on it. I’m going back in.’

“Living up to Gary’s standard is a hard thing for everybody to do. You can’t expect Gary to change and by the same token you’d expect him to be frustrated.”

Plummer said the frustration has caused him to confront one player about not playing with pain. He said the others know who they are.

“If anyone in the locker room wonders who I’m talking about, then it’s probably them,” he said. “It’s cut and dry. It’s black and white.”

Linebacker Henry Rolling, hampered with an ankle injury but has only missed one game, said he is not worried that Plummer may be talking about him.

“I’ve always been told I have a different pain tolerance,” he said. “There was one game I played with two pulled groins and two pulled hamstrings. Anybody else would have been stupid to do that. Personally, I’m not worried about it.”

Safety Martin Bayless did not disagree with Plummer’s statement, but he would not elaborate.

“I’m not in a position to speak out,” he said. “It’s not important to me. I think what Gary has said is something that’s true.

“You would hate to say somebody quit. If there’s a guy out there who’s faking, he has to live with that.”

Plummer said Chargers fans are hurt most by players’ inability to play through pain.

“I really feel bad not only for the players, but for the fans of San Diego,” he said. “Here’s people that are out there making $20,000 or $30,000 a year. Spending $100 to come to a football game to watch guys that are making $375,000 a year, and then they’re supposed to be supportive of us? When there’s a player that’s not going to play? To me, that’s ridiculous.

“For those players that aren’t laying it on the line, to me they shouldn’t be paid.”

After watching films of his holding penalty, which nullified the Chargers’ go-ahead touchdown pass to Derrick Walker, center Courtney Hall was even more convinced he was innocent.

“I thought if anything it should have been an offsides penalty,” Hall said. “(Nose tackle Nolan Harrison) jumped the cadence. He fell into me. It looked like he was lined up offsides.”

Henning conferred with Hall’s assessment of the play.

The Chargers are trying out former San Francisco 49ers punter Barry Helton today. Although Henning said he has not been pleased with John Kidd’s punting lately, the coach said Helton’s tryout was set up last week.

Kidd is averaging 38.6 yards a punt and is tied for last in the AFC. He averaged just 30.5 yards on six punts Sunday.