SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS OSU's Plummer: NFL man's game

The cornerback weighed in on the Maurice Clarett saga.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ahmed Plummer, a four-year starter at age 27, says it's possible that a 19- or 20-year-old football player out of high school could make it in the NFL.
But the former four-year Ohio State University player doesn't recommend it: "It's a man's game here, both on and off the field. There's so much going on."
Plummer was speaking by telephone from the team's headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., where the Niners (1-0) are preparing to play the Rams Sunday in St. Louis. The 49ers are owned by John and Denise DeBartolo York of Canfield.
Cooper era
A first-round pick in the NFL's 2000 draft, Plummer played for John Cooper from 1996-99.
Although he and his wife, Tiffany, spend some of the off-season in Columbus, Plummer says he doesn't know enough of the details that led to Ohio State suspending sophomore tailback Maurice Clarett for the season to judge whether the penalty was harsh.
"It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I don't know everything that's going on," Plummer said.
One of Clarett's options is to sue the NFL over a rule that prevents players from being drafted until three years have passed since high school graduation.
"I won't say that there isn't a [young] player somewhere who couldn't handle it," said Plummer, citing the success Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett achieved after joining the NBA out of high school. "But there's no doubt, not everybody is ready to play at this level" no matter how many years of college experience they accumulate.
Plummer has 44 starts in his 46 NFL regular-season games plus three playoff games.
Sidelined
In the first quarter of last January's 31-6 playoff loss to the Buccaneers in Tampa, Plummer separated his shoulder, suffering his first major injury at the professional level. His departure was the final straw for a beleaguered 49ers secondary that was ravaged with injuries by season's end.
"It's doing fine," Plummer said of his recovery. "It came as a bit of a shock because I've been blessed and fortunate to avoid injuries."
The Niners are preparing for the pass-happy Rams, who have announced that Marc Bulger will replace former MVP Kurt Warner at quarterback. Plummer will start at one side and Mike Rumph, the 49ers' 2002 first-round draft pick from Miami, will man the other side as Jason Webster recovers from a knee injury.
In last week's 49-7 romp over the Bears, Plummer intercepted a Kordell Stewart pass and raced 68 yards for his first NFL touchdown.
"That was exhilarating, something you always dream of doing," said Plummer, who had one interception return for a touchdown at Ohio State.
"I didn't realize it at the time, but I was smiling all the way down the field," said Plummer, citing pictures that show him displaying a huge grin as the Niners went ahead, 30-7.
No letting up
Plummer confirmed the stories that, under new Niners coach Dennis Erickson, the defensive players hit the offense a lot more in training camp.
"The coaches wanted us to get them to be a little tougher," Plummer said. "And we loved it."
As for the Buckeyes, Plummer said he feels a connection to last year's championship team even though he never played for Coach Jim Tressel.
"In the spring before they won, I spent some time working out at the [Ohio State] facilities, so I got to know some of the guys and felt a special bond," Plummer said. "I feel that [my class] was part of the building blocks that led to that team being built."
The best part of celebrating the national championship win over Miami, Plummer said, is wearing a hat Tressel sent him.
"[University of Miami graduate] Mike Rumph doesn't like it much, but that's his problem," Plummer said.
williams@vindy.com