The Broncos are nearing completion of a trade that would send Jake Plummer to Tampa Bay, but the veteran quarterback might have other ideas.

There are several reports today that Plummer is considering retirement, and though he was not available for comment, his brother, Eric, told the Rocky today he would not be surprised if the QB walked away from football.

"He kind of hasn't really let me know much. But I know long before the trade (talk) he was considering retirement," said Eric Plummer, who hasn't spoken with Jake in about a week. "He just wasn't really sure whether he really wanted to do it all again. I just told him it's his decision and his decision only."

Why would Plummer consider retirement at age 33?

"There's a lot of stuff he wants to do and I think maybe football has maybe precluded him from doing a lot of things in his life," Eric Plummer said. "He's been in the league 10 years and he probably already has some physical ramifications from that. Im just not sure he wants to go through a new city, a new team, new teammates and try to be the guy again, and then if it fails, all that. Im just not sure he wants to tackle that whole thing again."

If the deal with the Buccaneers goes through, the Broncos likely would receive a fourth-round draft pick for the QB who was supplanted by Jay Cutler as Denver's starter late last season.

Denver officials had told Plummer's agent that the would be amenable to a trade if it would benefit both the team and the player. And this situation might.

Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden has said for weeks he planned to bring a veteran QB to camp and there would be a competition for the starting job. The Bucs' starter in 2006, Chris Simms, re-signed with the team for two years this offseason, but he has been sporadic in his three seasons with the team. And his backup, veteran Tim Rattay, became a free agent today.