‘Bad Day’ for Coach Is Bad News for Player

Jack Reilly, the former El Camino College coach who is now an offensive assistant with the San Diego Chargers, may have knocked starting linebacker Gary Plummer out of Sunday’s season finale against the Denver Broncos.

Plummer took an elbow to the ribs from Reilly Wednesday, missed Thursday’s practice and is listed as questionable because of torn rib cartilage.

“All year long when I rush the passer, I hit Jack Reilly instead of hitting the quarterback,” said Plummer, the team’s No. 2 tackler. “Well, I came in and I hit Jack, and unbeknownst to me, Jack was having a bad day. So he literally reared back as hard as he could and hit me in the ribs.

“They took X-rays; it’s not broken, but I have separated cartilage. I’m serious as a heart attack. I couldn’t finish practice (Wednesday). I wasn’t expecting him to do anything, but he just got ticked.

“As it stands right now I wouldn’t be able to play today or tomorrow. But I’m going to definitely give it my best shot.”

Reilly, 46, looks like a spectator. Plummer is 6-foot-2 and 244 pounds.

“We’re just trying to see how tough Plummer is,” Reilly said. “He dishes it out, but he can’t take it.”

After Plummer took the shot to the ribs, he tried to walk away in pain without letting anyone know he was hurt.