Ryan Leaf

Infobox NFLretired


Color=#800000
fontcolor=White
|caption=
width=
position=Quarterback
number=16
birthdate=birth date and age|mf=yes|1976|5|15
Great Falls, Montana
deathdate=
debutyear=1998
finalyear=2002
draftyear=1998
draftround=1
draftpick=2
college=Washington State
teams= As Player
* San Diego Chargers (1998-2000)
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001) *
* Dallas Cowboys (2001)
* Seattle Seahawks (2002) *:*Offseason and/or practice squad member onlyAs Coach
* West Texas A&M (2006-"present")
stat1label=TD-INT
stat1value=14-36
stat2label=Yards
stat2value=3,666
stat3label=QB Rating
stat3value=50.0
nfl=LEA220394
highlights=
* Finished 3rd in Heisman voting in 1997

Ryan David Leaf (born May 15, 1976) is a former American football quarterback who played for the San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks between 1998 and 2002. As of 2008, he is the quarterback coach and head coach of the golf team for West Texas A&M University. [cite news |title=Leaf to Direct West Texas A&M Men's Golf During Upcoming Spring Semester |url= http://gobuffsgo.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/121806aaa.html|work= This is Buffalo Country|publisher=West Texas A&M University athletics|date= 2006-12-18|accessdate=2007-02-11] His brother Brady was a quarterback for the University of Oregon Ducks.cite news |first= Ed|last=Graney |title=Different sort of Leaf at Qualcomm |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/graney/20051226-9999-1s26graney2.html |publisher=San Diego Union-Tribune |date= 2005-12-26 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ]

Leaf had a successful college career at Washington State University, where he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy his junior year. At Washington State University, Leaf was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda, fraternity. He was selected as the second overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft after Peyton Manning of the University of Tennessee, after which many scouts predicted that Leaf would have a successful career in the league.cite news |first= Cheney|last= Wash|title=Leaf retires rather than reporting to Seahawks' camp |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2002/0726/1410477.html |publisher=ESPN |date= 2002-07-27 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ]

However, despite his athleticism, his time as a professional was short and marked by injuries, poor media relations, and poor performance. A movie about his short career is being made. [cite web |title="Too Deep Zone: Leaf!" |url=http://deadspin.com/sports/ryan-leaf/the-ryan-leaf-movie-will-probably-be-just-like-brians-song-222426.php |accessdate=2008-02-26 |date=2006-12-15] He is widely regarded as one of the biggest flops in NFL and professional sports history. [cite web|title=Leaf didn't fall far from the tree|url=http://espn.go.com/page2/s/immerman/020729.html|accessdate=2008-03-12 |date=2002-07-29] [cite web|title=Leaf tops biggest sports flop list|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=listranker/25biggestflops]

College career

Leaf was born in Great Falls, Montana, and led C. M. Russell High School to the 1992 Montana state title.cite news |title= Sports Illustrated 50 Greatest Montana Sports Figures|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/montana/greatest/ |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date= 1999-12-22 |accessdate=2007-02-23 ] After high school, Leaf played college football at Washington State University, playing in 32 games for the Cougars and starting 24 of them. He averaged 330.6 yards passing per game in his junior year and threw for a then-Pac-10 conference record 33 touchdowns. He also helped the Cougars defeat the University of Washington Huskies, 41-35, for the first time since 1994. Leaf ended the school's 67-year Rose Bowl drought and helped bring the Cougars their first Pac-10 championship in school history. Despite a strong early showing by Leaf in the Rose Bowl, the Cougars were defeated 21-16 by eventual co-national champion Michigan Wolverines.cite news |title=National title voting seems just a formality |url=http://www.cincypost.com/sports/1998/rose010298.html |work=The Kentucky Post |publisher= E. W. Scripps Company |date= 1998-01-02 |accessdate=2007-02-11 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050505061520/http://www.cincypost.com/sports/1998/rose010298.html |archivedate=2005-05-05 ] There was some controversy about the last play of that game, in that the clock ran out despite Leaf's attempt to spike the ball.

That year, Leaf was a finalist in balloting for the Heisman Trophy, given annually to the "most outstanding" player in American college football, as voted by media figures and former players. He finished third in the voting, behind winner Charles Woodson of Michigan and fellow quarterback Peyton Manning of Tennessee. He was also selected as the Pac-10 offensive player of the year, was a first-team All-American, and had the second-best national passer rating.cite news |first=Washington |last=Pullman |title= Where will Leaf fall? QB says Indianapolis, San Diego both suitable homes|url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/events/1998/nfldraft/news/1998/04/15/leaf_package/ |publisher= Sports Illustrated|date= 1998-04-15|accessdate=2007-02-11 ] cite web |url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/LeafRy00.htm |title= Ryan Leaf|accessdate=2007-02-11 |publisher= pro-football-reference.com|accessdate=2007-02-11] Following the Rose Bowl, Leaf announced that he would forgo his senior year at Washington State and turn professional.

1998 draft

When they entered the 1998 draft, Manning and Leaf were widely considered to be the two best overall players in the draft. The San Diego Chargers held the third pick of the draft, but made a trade with the Arizona Cardinals to guarantee their team would get one of the two quarterbacks. To move up to the second pick in the draft, the Chargers traded two first-round picks, a second-round pick, reserve linebacker Patrick Sapp and three-time Pro Bowler Eric Metcalf.cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/2001/02/28/sayitaintso_chargers/ |title=Chargers| year=2001 |accessdate=2007-02-11 |publisher=Sports Illustrated |work= Say It Ain't So... Transactions that broke our hearts]

There was some debate leading up to the draft as to whether Leaf or Manning should be selected first.cite news |title=Leaf has footwork to move from QB to coach |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2554770 |publisher= ESPN|date= 2006-08-19 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, Leaf was bigger and stronger, but most analysts agreed that Manning was the more mature player and the consensus top choice. However, differences in potential between the two seemed small enough that most observers expected it would not greatly matter whether a team selected Manning or Leaf.cite news |first=Kevin |last=Sherrington |title= Leaf gets a career mulligan|url= http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/ksherrington/stories/020407dnsposherringotn.1caac91.html |publisher= Dallas Morning News online|date= 2007-02-03|accessdate=2007-02-11 ] cite news |first=Peter |last=Finney |title=QB debate reminder of choice made in 1998 |url=http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-29/117264702668750.xml&coll=1 |publisher=New Orleans Times-Picayune |date=2007-02-28 |accessdate=2007-03-11 ]

On draft day, Leaf was selected second by the San Diego Chargers; Manning was selected first by the Colts. Other quarterbacks in that year's draft included current NFL quarterbacks Brian Griese and Matt Hasselbeck. Following the draft, the Chargers signed Leaf to a four-year contract worth $31.25 million, including a guaranteed $11.25 million signing bonus. It was, at the time, the largest signing bonus ever paid to a rookie.cite news |title= Leaf to Sign for Huge Bonus|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07E0DB1E39F935A15754C0A96E958260 |publisher=New York Times |date= 1998-07-26 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] Shortly after being drafted, Leaf declared, "I'm looking forward to a 15 year career, a couple of trips to the Super Bowl, and a parade through downtown San Diego."cite news |title= Leaf retires rather than reporting to Seahawks' camp|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2002/0726/1410477.html |publisher=Associated Press |date=2002-07-26 |accessdate=2007-09-01]

NFL career

an Diego Chargers

San Diego's high hopes for Leaf were soon dashed, as his rookie season was marked by poor performances. Before the season started, Leaf was fined for skipping a symposium that was mandatory for all newly drafted players.cite news |first= Tom|last=Shanahan |title= Rookies prepare for life in NFL|url= http://www.chargers.com/news/headlines/news-1088146800.htm |publisher= chargers.com|date= 2004-06-25 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] Leaf did well in the preseason and won his first two games as a rookie, becoming the first quarterback to do so since John Elway in the 1983 season.cite news |first=Greg |last=Garber |title=Leaf will leave, but where will he go? |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/garber_greg/880202.html|publisher=ESPN |date= 2000-11-17 |accessdate=2007-02-11]

However, in the third game of the season, Leaf completed one of fifteen passes for 4 yards and fumbled three times in a loss against the Kansas City Chiefs.cite news |first= Bernie|last=Wilson |title=Leaf: It Can't Get Much Worse Than 1-of-15 |url=http://www.laprensa-sandiego.org/archieve/september25/leaf.htm |publisher=La Prensa San Diego |date= 1998-09-25 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] He was benched after throwing two touchdown passes and thirteen interceptions in nine games, and replaced by quarterback Craig Whelihan.cite news |first= Bernie|last=Wilson |title=QB Turning Over A New Leaf? |url=http://www.laprensa-sandiego.org/archieve/november20/leaf.htm |publisher=La Prensa San Diego |date= 1998-11-20 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] After ten games, Leaf had thrown two more interceptions, passing for a total of 1,289 yards, with a 45.3 percent completion rate and a paltry passer rating of 39.cite news |first=Mark |last=Cannizzaro|title= Surprise! Leaf, Fiedler get new starts|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/cannizzaro_mark/713790.html |publisher=ESPN |date= 2000-09-01 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ]

Leaf had poor relationships with the media and his teammates. In one infamous locker room incident during Leaf's rookie year, he was caught on-camera screaming at "San Diego Union Tribune" reporter Jay Posner, "Just fucking don't talk to me, all right! Knock it off!" and had to be physically restrained by teammate Junior Seau. Another on-camera incident involved Leaf confronting a heckling Chargers fan during a practice session. Two coaches had to restrain Leaf and escort him off the field.

Leaf missed his entire second season because of a shoulder injury uncovered by a preseason physical. He was placed on injured reserve but made headlines for getting into a heated shouting match with Chargers general manager Bobby Beathard and another coach. The incident resulted in a fine, a suspension without pay, and Leaf apologizing four weeks later.cite news |first=Robert |last=Neely |title= Saving Project Ryan: Chargers must take one more shot at salvaging Leaf’s career|url=http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives/features_1999/neely_112299.asp |publisher=Pro Football Weekly |date= 1999-11-22 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] cite news |title=Fallen Leaf returns, says he's sorry |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/1999/1129/202691.html |publisher=ESPN |date= 1999-12-03 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] Leaf also allegedly lied about a hand injury to get out of practice so he could play golf instead.cite news |first=Trent |last=Modglin|title=Ryan Leaf fittingly pulled the plug on one of the most disappointing careers in NFL history |url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Columns/2002/modglin080202.htm |publisher=Pro Football Weekly |date= 2002-08-02 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] His suspension did not end his off the field troubles. While serving his 4 game suspension, a video surfaced of Ryan Leaf playing flag football in Ocean Beach, California while he was supposed to be rehabilitating his shoulder and wrist injuries. This incident marked the beginning of the end for Ryan Leaf in San Diego. After the video surfaced, the Chargers filed a grievance against Ryan Leaf citing a breach of contract for participating in activities detrimental to the team. The Chargers sought to recover $2.95 million of his $11.25 million signing bonus as well as use the incident as leverage to shorten the length of his contract. cite news |title=PRO FOOTBALL: NOTEBOOK; Butting Chandler Draws A $7,500 Fine for Greene |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DEFDA153EF937A35751C1A96F958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/G/Greene,%20Kevin |publisher=NYTIMES |date= 1999-12-04 |accessdate=2007-12-17 ] Despite the turmoil between Leaf and the Chargers front office, Leaf would remain with the Chargers into the 2000 season.

Leaf started the first two games of the 2000 season, only to complete less than half of his pass attempts, and throw for five interceptions and one touchdown. When backup Moses Moreno went down with a strained knee ligament, the Chargers gave Leaf more playing time. However, he injured his wrist while throwing an interception in a week four game and did not play again until week eleven. Following more poor performances and injury problems, he was released by the Chargers after the season, with a record of only four wins as a starter in three years.cite news |title=Leaf fails physical, doesn't join Dallas |url=http://www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2001/09/06/Sports/Leaf-Fails.Physical.Doesnt.Join.Dallas-492260.shtml |publisher= The Daily Texan online|date= 2001-09-01|accessdate=2007-02-11 ]

ubsequent career and retirement

After being released by San Diego, Leaf was claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were intrigued by his physical talent and planned to develop his abilities more slowly by having him watch and learn.cite news |title=Buccaneers pick up Leaf |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2001/03/02/leaf010302.html |publisher=CBC |date= 2001-03-02 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] However, Leaf's wrist still had not healed, and he refused to have surgery despite doctors' strong recommendations. After mediocre performances in the Buccaneers' four preseason games, the club asked Leaf to accept a lower salary. He refused, and the club released him just five days before the start of the 2001 season.cite news |first=Rick |last=Stroud |url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/090401/Sports/The_Leaf_experiment_e.shtml |title=The Leaf experiment ends |publisher=St. Petersburg Times |date= 2001-09-04 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ]

Leaf attempted a comeback with the Dallas Cowboys, who signed him a few weeks after the Buccaneers released him. He failed his first physical and had trouble passing the second because of his wrist.cite news |title=Failed physical ruins Leaf's warm welcome |url=http://www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2001/09/06/Sports/Failed.Physical.Ruins.Leafs.Warm.Welcome-1408167.shtml |publisher= The Michigan Daily|date= 2001-09-06 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] The Cowboys released him in May 2002, after he had appeared in four games—all losses—and thrown for 494 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.cite news| title=Cowboys decided to go with younger talent at QB |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2002/0520/1384671.html |publisher=ESPN |date= 2002-05-21 |accessdate=2007-02-11] Leaf was signed days later to a one-year contract by the Seattle Seahawks who, like the Buccaneers, planned to let him develop slowly so he could heal from his injuries.cite news |first=Mike |last=Holmgren |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Mike Holmgren on Ryan Leaf |url=http://www.seahawks.com/ArDisplay.aspx?SecID=85&ID=868 |format=press conference |publisher=seahawks.com |date= 2002-05-21 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] The quarterback attended the team's spring minicamps and seemed upbeat about his new team. However, Leaf retired at the age of 26, just before the start of the Seahawks' 2002 training camp, initially offering no explanation, but later citing his injuries.

During his brief career in the NFL, Leaf appeared in 25 games and made 21 starts. He completed 315 of 655 passes for 3,666 yards, with 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. Leaf's career passer rating was 50.0, much lower than the 78.9 league average between 2000 and 2003.cite news |title=Ryan Leaf: Feeble mind earns Hall of Feeble |url=http://www.footballology.com/hof/article.php3?ArticleID=112 |publisher=Footballology.Com |date= 2002-08-26 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ]

Personal life and legacy

The sports network ESPN listed Leaf first on both their list of the 50 biggest NFL draft busts and their list of the 25 Biggest Sports Flops between 1979 and 2004. [" [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3325687 Phillips couldn't outrun off-the-field troubles] ." ESPN. April 17, 2008.] cite web |title=ESPN 25 Biggest Sports Flops] |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=listranker/25biggestflops |publisher=ESPN |year=2004 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] MSNBC commentator Michael Ventre went so far as to call Leaf "the biggest bust in the history of professional sports."cite news |first=Michael |last=Ventre |title=Beware of next Ryan Leaf in draft |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7269110/from/RL.5/ |publisher=MSNBC |date= 2005-04-23 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] Each year, some sports writers speculate on which drafted player will be the "next Ryan Leaf", that is, the next big college superstar to flop in the pros.cite news |first=Pete |last=Prisco |title=Latest questions about top QB prospects too bad to be true |url=http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9382531 |publisher=CBS Sportsline |date= 2006-04-18 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ]

In February 2001, Leaf married a Chargers cheerleader, Nicole. They separated two years later and divorced soon after.cite news |first=Brent |last=Schrotenboer |title= Leaf turning|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20040728-9999-1s28leafjmp.html |publisher=San Diego Union-Tribune |date= 2004-07-28 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] In February 2005, Leaf was enrolled in a sports management class called "Media Relations" at Washington State University.cite news |title=Ryan Leaf news you won't believe |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050210/news_lz1s10gallry.html |publisher=San Diego Union-Tribune |date= 2005-02-10 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] He graduated with a bachelor's degree in arts and humanities in May 2005.cite news |title=Leaf takes coaching job at West Texas A&M |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2330897 |publisher=ESPN |date= 2006-02-15 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ]

Leaf joined Don Carthel's West Texas A&M staff as a quarterback's coach in 2006, and also became the school's golf coach in 2007. Said Leaf: "I feel very honored to be a part of Coach Carthel's staff and a part of an up-and-coming successful program. [...] About a year after I retired from playing, I decided that I wanted to get back to college, where I had the greatest time of my life, and to get involved with college football."cite news |first=Phil |last=Richards |title=Humbled by past, Leaf starts anew |url=http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060428/SPORTS0303/604280521 |publisher= Indianapolis Star|date= 2006-04-28 |accessdate=2007-02-11 ] Leaf also admitted that he was unprepared for the NFL when he was drafted back in 1998.

In April 2008, ESPN described Leaf as having made peace with his infamous NFL past: "When playing football became a job, it lost its luster for me. I kind of got out of the spotlight and life's never been this good." [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?id=3336006 ESPN - Leaf embraces place in history - NFL ] ]

Cultural References

* Early seasons of Cheap Seats listed Ryan Leaf as #4 in the "Hosting Depth Chart" behind Ron Parker and Randy and Jason Sklar.

References

External links

* [http://gobuffsgo.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/leaf_ryan00.html West Texas A&M University athletics page on Leaf]

Persondata
NAME=Leaf, Ryan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Leaf, Ryan David
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Notoriously unsuccessful American Football player
DATE OF BIRTH=May 15, 1976
PLACE OF BIRTH=Great Falls, Montana
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=