How BAD Was Ryan Leaf Actually?

[@roshango125ab]

It's pretty sad listening to Leaf in recent interviews. He did a lot of growing up since then and is full of regret that he didn't do that growing up in time to save his career.

[@jimtanguay4756]

Totally agree

[@douglasderu980]

The kind of personality and tendencies it takes to pull half the stuff he pulled . . I don't think that ever goes away. I'm not wishing him ill, but I would never in 1,000 years ever bet on him or consider hiring him for a job. He was a QB coach?! GTFO!

[@Quackodile]

he just got arrested in 2020 and has been consistently getting arrested every few years what growing up are you talking about?

[@revamp2672]

What kind of growing up leads you to beat your wife? It's all a facade he is the same as back then a man which the mindset of a child.

[@TheMattTrakker]

@@revamp2672 Don't insult children like that!

[@gregb4395]

Hey Ryan- you still owe me $20 for that bottle of Smirnoff the first weekend of our freshman year. -Greg from Stephenson North

[@WillsWorld29]

😂😂😂

[@jackjohnson5714]

$36.59 accounting for inflation

[@ballskin5984]

please tell me your serious😂

[@lonemaus562]

@@jackjohnson5714 damn that much in 20 years

[@carloflorez8697]

He won't pay you. Every 20 he gets goes into the panties of a stripper. A Tiger can't change his Stripes.

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Classic case of being too good in HS and college and deciding that you don’t need to work, obey rules, or follow directions anymore. Massive weight gain, missing workouts, and getting into fights is exactly what happens when an athlete has too much success early and takes the praise to heart. He really probably thought he was the best QB ever and that trying was beneath him. Good thing would just come to him because they always had in the past. He’s not the only guy to fall victim to his own massive ego and believe the hype about himself. But he was a really good example of it.

[@Yomomma45738]

Most superstars in the NFL were dominant at every level they played. I get what you're saying buuuuut not really. Tom Brady is one of the few that wasn't.

[@Jkev24]

@@Yomomma45738 you know, I'm not sure that's 100% true in football. There's a lot of guys who get drafted in late rounds that have just ok collegiate careers. I think you're right though when it comes to rounds 1-3.

[@Yomomma45738]

@@Jkev24 that's true.

[@danielvalenzuela7963]

What your saying is so true. However I don't think this is the case with leaf. In high school he flipped off his coaches foght with teammates. His own town hated him. I think Ryan leaf was just an asshole. Pure and simple.

[@paulmicheldenverco1]

Some players who were free agent success stories said they sometimes felt like they didn't belong, so they worked so hard that the coaches wouldn't notice their error.

[@scottsodyssey2485]

The one scene that always comes to mind when Ryan Leaf is mentioned is when he's yelling at the reporters in the locker-room "dont talk to me, knock it off" and Seau has to pull him away. He was a total a$$ and bust. But glad to see he has finally turned his life around. He does a great job filling in on the Rich Eisen Show.

[@bigbearkat2010]

Personally my favorite story is that his high school teammates all hated him so much that he got one vote for team captain.

[@jimroscovius]

He got arrested just last year. He hasn't turned around at all.

[@EJD339]

@@jimroscovius definitely has had slips ups for sure but the dude is trying. I do understand where your comment though.

[@d.i.g.i.t.a.l.9268]

I was holding the camera that day

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

Yep. I was a huge detractor of this guy and was like, "You got the (non-)career you deserve, fu

[@crawdad9696]

The level of commitment it takes to be a professional athlete is not for everyone.

[@joshuagrant4961]

He obviously can put the effort in though. I mean, to reach the levels of assholary he did takes some serious dedication to the craft.

[@kevinbond8966]

Its double the commitment for an NFL QB.

[@AlonsoRules]

College with it's optional defence and weekly blowouts is totally different to the Pros

[@hawaiidkw1]

This is exactly why I have zero sympathy for franchises who build the team around a college star who turns out to be a bum. The red flags are *always* there, *absolutely glaringly obvious, from day one,* and if YOU choose to ignore them you have NO ONE to blame but yourself for wrecking the season. Character matters, work ethic matters, and attitude matters, _and this is why._

[@brothermichael8442]

He had the talent to be a legit NFL QB. Unfortunately, he lacked the character, work ethic, and IQ required.

[@brianmcintyre503]

Well said. Takes more than talent.

[@billlawrence1899]

Extraordinary talent will make you a star in high achool and college, but not in the NFL when you play the Big Boys. That takes hard work, discipline, dedication, and willingness to be coached.

[@Belltoller]

IQ is not the issue. He's a pretty smart dude. I agree with everything else though.

[@brothermichael8442]

@@Belltoller Yeah, you're right, he just made some really dumb decisions.

[@gregpenismith1248]

@@billlawrence1899 Big Boys isn't a proper noun. Where do people learn to capitalize random shit?

[@rosslangerak8361]

The first I saw of Ryan Leaf was at pregame interviews for the Apple Cup. Brock Huard stood for reporters, giving complete, concise answers to their questions. Ryan Leaf sat on the bench, giving answers like "Yeah", "No", and "Don't care". Leaf had all of the talent, but none of the discipline. I was not at all surprised by his meltdown. Johnny Manziel reminded me of Ryan Leaf, except Johnny Football could talk.

[@sassysalmon93]

This is why QBs are so priced. You need such a delicate combo of mind and body.

[@kjames3959]

That's true, well said

[@Bolt6604]

I mean Tom Brady has never won a game due to Athleticism. I think Football IQ is incredibly under-rated when evaluating QB's personally. I'll take a QB that runs a 4.9 40, but bleeds Football IQ out of the ears and can throw an accurate ball over any other set of skills personally.

[@shirleytwsw]

I’ll tell you who is a good example of this justin fields he is a great guy with a good character and work ethic

[@yadda333]

@@Bolt6604 I don't think you understood the comment.

[@Bolt6604]

@@yadda333 No I understood it just fine, I don't think you understood mine. "You need a delicate combo of mind and body." My argument is I really don't give a shit about the body as much, as long as he can throw the ball accurate and he can think the game extremely well. There is a reason why Tom Brady is considered the Goat and it isn't because of his physical prowess.

[@james2ts439]

As a life long (San Diego) Charger fan, this story breaks my heart. The dude had all the talent in the world... and blew it.

[@boogitybear2283]

The Spanos Family are a disgrace.

[@Tacofiend92]

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard

[@CJEstradaMartinez]

Quoting Damon Amendolara, host of "The D.A. Show:" If you don't draft and properly groom a QB, it'll set your franchise back for years.

[@dougman23]

@thomas ortega Mike Stoops made shirts with that motto for Arizona when he got the head coaching job there. I love that motto

[@1c0nic_player]

@@Tacofiend92 i like that

[@joshmullins7508]

I am a fellow recovering addict. I have spoken with Ryan on Twitter. A very nice well spoken guy who owns up to his mistakes. He has become a hero for recovering addicts. Ryan works hard and focuses on his sobriety. I love the guy and wish him well.

[@lscales6131]

Leafs down fall was his attitude. I mean he had that label of being “cocky and arrogant” prior to being even in college. This just happens when you’re told you’re the best and then you get to the nfl and you’re with other people that were told they were the best. The difference between good and great players is the great ones keep trying to be great the good ones just stop.

[@nd_irish_fan744]

At the amateur levels, you're just so much better than most everyone else. At the professional level, there's a very good chance that most everyone else is better than you are, and you're the one who hasn't developed the emotional discipline to accept your "new" status.

[@LobsterRavioli]

I’ll never forget when he threatened a reporter after all his thrown interceptions! Lol, good times! Lol

[@raymondsolisjr.1262]

Don't talk to me alright. Knock it off!!!!! (Cue Junior Seau)

[@SaltyChip]

He was emotionally immature and the chargers didn’t help him by handing him the starting job without earning his teammates trust yet. He needed to be taken down a notch instead of giving the keys to the entire organization.

[@opwave79]

Precisely. I lived in San Diego during his tenure there and remember how the team coddled him despite his bad off field behavior. After his rookie season, fans debated amongst themselves whether to stand behind him or not. It was 50/50. Then that infamous locker room incident was aired and his popularity spiraled down. Eventually he lost everyone’s support except for the coaching staff.

[@howardstrike8753]

Now they got a QB with the exact opposite attitude, that’s crazy man

[@CJEstradaMartinez]

The Chargers gave Ryan their keys to the Ferrari without proper training. Tell me how that turned out. It was an unmitigated disaster.

[@malcomreynolds4103]

regardless of any of that - he needed to learn how to play real football first, not fake college football where opposing defenses are mostly incompetent and you can gimmick your way around anything

[@brucewayne9559]

Don't forget the millions

[@jeffreyjosephcomedyfun]

After watching this video it seems as if Leaf became lazy once he became a millionaire.

[@stephaniegormley9982]

Yeah, hard to feel sorry for him. Heisman winner Andre Ware, on the other hand was considered a bust but his story was different. He was obsessed with preparation and his coaches said he was always the first to arrive and last to leave. Spending a lot of extra time in the film room. He just didn't have the talent and played for the Lions which is a tall order anyway.

[@tommcd8471]

​@@stephaniegormley9982 Thats the thing about character though, some people have it in spades at 21 and some people have to go though a lot of hardship and don't turn into decent people until they're in their 30's and life has kicked their ass a few times. Personally me at 21 was a complete mess and would have ended up even worse...thankfully i dont have any talent.

[@AnEnemySpy456]

He was able to get by on talent alone in high school and college but once he got to the highest level of football he wasn't willing to put in the hard work required to be good as a pro.

[@joeg5414]

@@AnEnemySpy456 Yup. There are a lot of people that have the talent to play a sport at the professional level. Most aren't willing to spend the time required though.

[@Chris-tq1jy]

Reminds me of Aaron Curry, he was regarded as one of the best linebackers going into the 2009 draft. After he was drafted 4th overall by the Seattle Seahawks he said that he lost all his motivation as soon as he became a millionaire. If there’s an “underrated draft bust” it’s definitely Aaron Curry.

[@zooropa04]

I've been a Colts fan since the dismal Jeff George days. I knew the team had made the right decision when someone asked Peyton what he would do with his money and he replied, "Earn it."

[@MRB16th]

In fact, Peyton also told the Colts if they didn't draft him, his team would face the Colts in a playoff game or Super Bowl 15 years later, and they would beat them. At this point, they knew (despite how it sounds) that they couldn't pass him up and be left thinking "We could have drafted him, and he just beat us".

[@jjohnson3469]

If you listen to him on SiriusXM, he talks all about his own character flaws and how a lot of players today aren't falling prey to the stuff that got him. When he was talking about Chase Daniel, and his career as a backup where he's made a lot of money, I heard a lot of real regret in his voice, but hey, I'll pull for his radio career. He definitely seems like a happier person now.

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

It goes to show, people didn't hate him, they hated his attitude and the kind of person he became. 99% of us don't want to see a guy go through life like that and are glad that he got the right kind of help and is turning it around. When I heard that he was busted for drugs and looking at serious prison time, I thought, "Yep, he's gonna end up one of those guys that is found dead in a hotel room a la Chris Farley." I'm glad it didn't go that way for him. As much as people piled on him then, they want to see him be the comeback kid now.

[@scottwhitehead4467]

As a Colts fan since '89, the year I moved to Indy right out of college, I have to admit that at the time the Colts drafted Manning over Leaf, I was not sure if they made the right pick. Leaf seemed to have more upside, especially from a physical standpoint. It did not take long to realize Manning was the Man. Peyton is one of my favorite athletes and people of all-time. Leaf? He's become a cautionary tale of hubris and bad judgement. I wish him well.

[@Stussmeister]

Indeed. I remember watching a documentary about the top 10 draft busts (I think it's available here on KZbin) where they described the Manning-Leaf debate as "the finished product over the upside", in that Peyton was viewed as being more NFL-ready while Ryan was seen as the player who might climb farther.

[@rogerrhodes90]

This is similar to the 2007 NBA draft, because there was a huge debate about who would be the better player, Greg Oden or Kevin Durant with Oden being seen as the best. Oden was drafted by Portland at #1 and Durant was drafted by Seattle ( now OKC) at #2. Oden sadly became a injury prone bust because of his glass knees, while Durant became what he became.

[@fromthehaven94]

That locker room outburst will forever be Ryan Leaf's defining moment as a pro.

[@rjohn00017]

If not for Ryan Leaf, we never would've landed LT. Glass half full man.

[@shawnhughes4192]

still ZERO superbowls... so glass very empty

[@ezekielvonlichenstein3476]

You do know there is so many LT right?

[@justinwilson980]

@@ezekielvonlichenstein3476 LaDainian Tomlinson I think

[@LV_FUD80]

But, if Leaf had had the career with the Bolts that Manning had with the Colts, they might never have left San Diego. Tomlinson or not, that's glass VERY empty. Hell, that's glass SHATTERED.

[@deshawncross4003]

You didn’t win anything with him either though lol!

[@SusanAHubbard]

I admire that he turned himself around. He very easily could have turned into another statistic. He owns his mistakes and seems to be doing a lot better now

[@joshjohnson2753]

Didn't he get a domestic violence charge less then a year ago though?

[@thebigdog7000]

A failure is only failure if you dont learn from it.

[@denimchicken104]

Lol. Ryan leaf turned himself around several times by now. One day he moves forward, the next he regresses.

[@joshjohnson2753]

@@denimchicken104 Right lol. The dude is still a screw up, just arguably slightly less then he was 20+ years ago.

[@Hotdiggity11]

He really hasn't though. Got arrested yet again just a year and a half ago lol. Plead guilty to it just to avoid jail time.

[@MrBudcole]

I met Leaf in 1999. I was with a boxing promoter friend of mine, and I had no idea who the kid was who he was talking with. When I walked over, my friend said "this is Ryan Leaf - he plays in the NFL." I immediately recognized him, but I did notice that he looked very tired, and was sweating. He had dark circles under his eyes, but was otherwise very polite and soft-spoken. My friend knew him because he was friend's with Leaf's agent. Used to run into that stuff all the time back in the day. Anyway - I started paying a little bit of attention to him (Leaf) after that meeting, and I remember thinking "This is the guy they thought was better than Manning?" I am a football fan, but am a FAR bigger fan of the college game than the NFL. I remember watching Michigan beat WSU in the Rose Bowl, and thinking "man, that quarterback from Washington State is really big!" It gives me no pleasure to know what a struggle Leaf has had with his own personal demons since leaving College. Being a former boxing coach, I can tell you this - with absolute certainty: The biggest obstacle that coaches face in athletes is dealing with their self-confidence. Whether it's a LACK thereof, or an ABUNDANCE of it - both are huge obstacles in athletic development. Lack of self-confidence has, most-certainly, cost the world nearly as many potential prominent athletes than an ABUNDANCE of self-confidence has provided. Elite athletes generally KNOW they are elite athletes, because they have been winning their entire lives. The ones with all of the potential, but the unwillingness to put it on the line - well, let's just say that almost every team anywhere in competitive sports has one of those athletes on their roster. It's just that nobody knows about their talent. I have witnessed SO MANY talented fighters who were limited by their fear of failure that I've lost count - and I think about them all the time. I had a kid once who looked just like a young Barry Sanders - same build, and smile. He could work the bags and gloves with such speed and precision - everyone wanted to see him spar. His movements were incredibly quick, and his power-center was always in tact... which means that almost every punch he threw was with full force. Did I mention he was FAST? Anyway, he found whatever reason he could come up with - flat tire (he didn't have a car), sick mother, stubbed his toe - whatever - to cancel out on his sparring sessions. Turns out the only reason he came to the gym was because one of his friends convinced him to after he kicked the asses of 3 kids who had been bullying him at school for a long time. According to one of the other kids at the gym, he knocked all three boys out with textbook left hooks. Lack of self-confidence = wasted potential. As for the ABUNDANCE of self-confidence issues, well... If an athlete has already established themselves at the level they are competing in, then some ABUNDANCE is to be expected. As with the potentials who were unwilling to put it on the line, the ABUNDANCE guys (just a term) often represent those who have also never put it on the line, but - for whatever reason - believe everything is academic and inevitable. In my opinion, Ryan Leaf was an ABUNDANCE guy, without an updated resume'. He lost his FINAL game at the level he actually dominated at, and moved on to the next level. Instead of reflecting on his loss at the previous level, he relished in his past successes, refused to seek improvement, and simply showed up to his "promotion" fully un-prepared. As an avid golfer, I can tell you that it's always the guys who scream "yeah" when they bomb a drive 300+ yards who also throw their pitching wedge after multiple attempts out of the bunker. The loudest winners are also usually the lousiest losers - not always, but more often than not.

[@GFHC406]

I'm from great falls. I went to school with his younger brother, who was also a stand out QB. Definitely more of a class act, but then, he kinda had to be. Ryan had already gone "bust" by the time he was playing. Kinda sucks that the most famous athlete from my hometown is so widely known as an asshat. But from what I've kept track of he has definitely tried to turn his life around. Fuckin pills man.

[@bigbearkat2010]

I feel you on that. There was a pitcher from my town that got picked in the first round a few years ago by the Marlins and hasn't even gotten past AA. Now he didn't seem to have the off the field issues Leaf had but it still sucks that the our success story athlete is a low key bust.

[@sgsportgirl]

@@bigbearkat2010 Is it Tyler Kolek?

[@bigbearkat2010]

@@sgsportgirl actually yes it is

[@TwentyWonmile]

McClain was our varsity coach before he was CMR's....I understand he (coach) took a lot of crap when he benched RL for his antics

[@itsdesean]

Rock ya sin went to my high school and comes back sometimes to talk to us on the football team

[@rizpatch5497]

Ryan Leaf was just built different and not in an good way 😂😏👌

[@carbsinmilk8527]

I hate to be that guy but a*

[@aditmukalel6277]

@@carbsinmilk8527 alright grammar police

[@MmmNoomdle]

Man's was built with missin parts

[@cityraintunes]

@@aditmukalel6277 Language is important.

[@TheRealTroubleShooter]

Flemlo did a great vid on Leaf. Really painted a picture so you know about where/what he came from that made him into the player he became.

[@hatespeech_groyper3793]

Flemlo the goat

[@KidFresh71]

Flemo is amazing. Surprised a major broadcast network hasn’t hired him yet. Dude knows his football and presents with panache

[@lynnpoint6395]

@@KidFresh711:51 Dude doesn't know it's the UCLA Bruins.

[@wakkawakkagaming3710]

Ryan Leaf is a reminder that guys like Peyton, Lebron, and Mike Trout are phenoms. It's not just the talent, it's being able to process and deal with being acclaimed by everyone from such a young age and still be able to play at a high level without letting ego blow things up. It's so easy to buy into your own hype, so maintaining mental acuity and humility as someone in their teens/early 20's is astounding

[@blargsharge2417]

Not a LeBron fan but he did do a good job handling his ego at a young age and nobody can disagree

[@youtubeistryingtocensorme]

It’s called work ethic. Having massive talent will only take you so far. Peyton Manning had talent but also had unbelievable work ethic. Guy was meticulous in his planning ahead of games.

[@darbs1832]

@@blargsharge2417 That's one thing that I can applaud LeBron for - I used to include him being a great family man but now we know he cheats like crazy and makes girls sign NDAs

[@carlos.a.vcarvajal6119]

This story could compete perfectly with that of Marcus Dupree ... Great talents ... But they didn't have a leader to guide them on the right path.

[@danejurus69]

Those shoulder pads are so huge compared to now that it makes you wonder how any QB was ever able to throw with them on.

[@drew8703]

Ryan Leaf should be proud of his accomplishments in college - I still remember that rose bowl. I also remember Leaf did have a streak or two where he showed he was capable - if memory serves me correctly he was on cover of SI noting his good play. We should also recognize that San Diego was and I think still is known as being a poorly run organization that probably didn't have any kind of system to help their biggest investment with a difficult leap being a starting QB in the NFL with ridiculous expectations and scrutiny - people had to have known of his personality issues that frankly are not uncommon in 21 year olds and also foreseen the type of struggles a rookie QB like Peyton Manning had - and I've never heard once what San Diego did in an effort to help him out. I've also always wondered how Leaf acted how he did with Junior Seau on the team who one would think would have had the ability to put him in check in whatever way was necessary. Anyway, bout two years ago I saw Lead on ESPN as commentator and I literally thought he had died from his substance abuse issues and it actually made me happy to know (1) he was still alive and (2) doing something that was probably very hard because of how he would be received by a football audience who immediately only think "bust" or worse upon seeing him. So my hat off to Leaf for his athletic accomplishments and for getting himself back out there in an effort to get a life he can be proud of, and I think there are others besides myself who support him in that.

[@raylopez99]

Don't know much about football but SD had that Rivers QB who was very good so they must know a bit about QBs.

[@drew8703]

@@raylopez99 Rivers came years later after SD had hopefully learned a lesson and there was definitely a new gm and coaching regime by then, and the rules were changing when and during Rivers' career that made it easier to play position (and LT was probably very helpful). Ryan Leaf definitely had issues of his own but I just think there is a smaller margin between failure and success' than one might think where there are a lot of little things that can make a difference such as one particular coach, the patience and time to allow someone time to learn and get better, the particular support during tough times, the difficulty of position over the years, etc. After watching super bowl last Sunday and seeing a QB sacked by what was the equivalent of a group hug, it makes me appreciate just how insanely difficult playing QB used to be. I really think SD had some major issues back then on a lot of levels, and could have made difference between the train wreck that it was instead of say a career like Jake Plummer or some other moderate level of success. Take also other big bust I remember in my time - Jamarcus Russell. At that time Al Davis had definitely lost his way and the entire organization was a complete mess.

[@AnsticePalo]

@@drew8703 Just imagine if Ryan could have held it together just two more years and he would have had Marty Schottenheimer as his coach. Marty probably could have pulled Ryan's head out of his ass and made a starting caliber QB again.

[@drew8703]

@@AnsticePalo Was Marty a quarterback whisperer? From what I gather he was a good offensive mind and actually a decent head coach -- his playoff record is crazy though and I haven't found an all-encompassing explanation. When I wrote my initial post, I hadn't heard Ryan Leaf on the Rich Eisen show. Now I have and it really is incredible how great he is doing now, and he has a lot to be proud of in terms of where he is now. I went back and read Ryan Leaf's wikipedia page and there is still so much in there that shows he had some good in him. After he went out of NFL, he actually went back to school and got his degree, and he just kept at trying to do positive things even with the periodic legal troubles. And it also is crazy that when Leaf and Manning played each other first year, they had the exact same completions/attempts, but Leaf had 23 more yards, same number of INT's. The big difference was that Leaf got sacked 4 times to Manning's 1. They were literally the same that first year and maybe Leaf was just a tad better. Its nuts. Going back to '98, I'm still taking Leaf over Manning even knowing what I know now.

[@AnsticePalo]

@@drew8703 Quarterback whisperer? Nah, but he brings a culture of winning wherever he goes. Ryan had THREE head coaches before he was out of the league. QBs generally do not thrive in such environments. So you have a young man who's barely an adult, he's the number 1 draft pick on a subpar team, and every year it feels like a new head coach is there. The pressure can crack anyone under that kind of strain.

[@stankakol5195]

Man, I have some of the same demons and mental issues that Leaf had. I wish him well.

[@roach8676]

8:04 You can tell my boy watches Friday 😂💯

[@ChumblesMumbles]

Damn, the Colts didn't even have to do any special background research to figure out which way to go. What's more mind-blowing is that the Chargers didn't seem to feel the need to either. The dude's home town hated him - that's a bit of a clue, ain't it?

[@Ken4Pyro]

When I think of Leaf I well remember the difficulties he had, many of which were self created. However, I'll also keep in mind the game the Chargers played against the Broncos up in Denver with Leaf under center in November of 2020. In what was described as a shootout with Denver QB Gus Frerotte, Denver won by a single point. Leaf was 13-27 for three touchdowns, and 311 yards. I thought it showed that he was "turning the corner", however it sadly turned out not to be the case.

[@ericanderson8500]

In 2020?

[@scotmandel6699]

@@ericanderson8500 2000

[@zachscott4096]

“It took multiple people to restrain him” Nah man just Junior lol

[@joeg5414]

Yeah and it didn't look like he had to try that hard😂

[@King_Karnage]

RIP Junior

[@tedmulthauf7434]

Junior was multiple people.

[@k.o.t.2times339]

Man Leaf him alone.He works for Rich Eisen now 💯🙌🏿

[@kaydenlog55836]

Who's that

[@AttilatheThrilla]

@@kaydenlog55836 You new to Football?? lol

[@kaydenlog55836]

@@AttilatheThrilla casual fan yea still wanna know though

[@kaydenlog55836]

@@AttilatheThrilla looked him up he has a show on yt🤠

[@CornellBillingsWorth]

@@kaydenlog55836 damn you’ve lived a life without Eisen? The guy shaped my childhood on the NFL network lmfao

[@Mimi-un5tr]

I was and still am a Peyton Manning super fan, so it used to make me so mad when their talent was compared to be basically the same. I hated Ryan Leaf for that and the way he was behaving (I was young and stupid so please don't @ me) but watching his 30 for 30 and so many of his interviews of late I am so happy for him! We all have a purpose in this life and sometimes it's laid out in front of us and sometimes we have to go through some rough stuff to find it. I am so glad Ryan founf his purpose. He seems to be doing great and I wish him all the best in the world. PS I feel really silly for hating him before he got his life on track, he needed support, not bashing from the media and everyone else. ( yes, I'm pointing fingers at me for that)

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

I think most of us are in that boat. As much as I despised him, I don't want to see a guy go through life like that. I can cut a big break to a guy who gets a handle on his life and says straight-up, "I f***ed up bad, man. Learn from me. I'm the perfect example of what not to do."

[@craciunator99]

Leaf and Johnny Manziel seem to have a lot in common

[@EyesHaveMiles420]

Indeed

[@patoakley3049]

"20 pounds of pure fat" lol

[@AllThingsInfamous1]

Money doesn’t change people it just shows who they really are.

[@Professor-of-Gaming]

Ryan Leaf may be an NFL bust, but he's a great life story about second chances. He's been fantastic on the Rich Eisen show

[@stoutdog56]

I'm glad he has recovered from his mistakes that cost him his playing career. I happy he has a family a son and a new career.

[@ericcampbell6261]

I myself, had an appointment for the Air Force Academy and went enlisted instead. My nephew had a scholarship for the University of Pennsylvania football team and he chose a no name DII school in northern PA because it was closer to home. There is NO SHORTAGE OF BONEHEAD in 20 year olds. As with Leaf, sometimes you just hear an irresistible voice coming from the rabbit hole and the rest is history.

[@wilecoyote2074]

My nephew is a graduate of USAFA and is actively serving. I say this only to point out that I quietly observed his level of maturity as a 17 year old senior in HS applying to the academy and doing all the work necessary to receive an appointment (good grades are just a part of it unless you are a stud athlete being recruited) and in comparison to my maturity at his age, it was night and day. Guess we all have our own path in life. I'm sure it all worked out for you. Thanks for your service.

[@ericcampbell6261]

@@wilecoyote2074 KUDOS to your nephew who was mature enough to recognize the end game. And from one vet to another, I thank him for his service.

[@alonsoquijano51]

Scouts said that if you wanted to draft the qb most ready for the nfl, draft Manning. If you wanted a qb with the greatest upswing potential, draft Leaf. The one thing films don't show is 'heart' and 'willingness to work'

[@jimroscovius]

Actually, Leaf is considered THE biggest bust in NFL history. Tony Mandarich is considered the second-biggest bust.

[@Tacofiend92]

So who’s the bigger bust of all time Russell or leaf?

[@stephaniegormley9982]

I was convinced this guy would be better than Manning. My time watching him was very finite, only one game. As a Michigan fan I watched his Rose Bowl loss to my team but he played very well in defeat and thought he was the genuine article.

[@MrAlex_Raven]

Now we need to compare this to Nate Peterman's stats, and compare the two GOATs of the INT.

[@stuvo1977]

It's such a cruel world. It's loves to build you up just so it can tear you down. Football has no meaning anyway. I'm glad Ryan cleaned his life up. Now he's giving back and doing something meaningful.

[@denimchicken104]

Not sure domestic violence and probation is giving and meaningful

[@forman208]

The fuck? Leaf did all that to himself. He was a colossal prick in his brief NFL tenure and a criminal outside of it

[@FoxxyBrown1111]

This is the best voice by far of this channel. Pay him more! I would even listen if he talks about starting Boeing 747s.

[@jmeaksful]

As a former player and coach I find it interesting to make the comparison of what if… What if Ryan leaf had been drafted by the Colts and Payton by the chargers. I think French football fans greatly underestimate the importance of coaching and development within these professional organizations. Clearly he did not play well in SD, but I like to think if he had spent his first seasons with a QB coach such as Bruce Arians may be the outcome would’ve been different

[@cutehumor]

plot twist. peyton would have never went to chargers. see Eli refusing to go there too.

[@raylopez99]

@@cutehumor Philip Rivers was a SD QB and did very well, so all is not lost going to a losing team with bad management.

[@apex_prowler95]

Leaf missed playing for the best coach in Chargers history, Bobby Ross, by 2 seasons I think. Ross would have put his head in the right place. Leaf needed to sit until the last 4 games of his rookie season.

[@realsmusic1]

Videos are well done. Short and informative nit long or drawn out. Keep it up

[@SellTheBenefits]

“Knock it off, don’t talk to me!” I’ll never forget that

[@JVTrickypants]

One of my favorite lines (just watched) video of him hosting Rich Eisen's show - "If your QB is not a captain on his college team, that's a bad sign." Respect for him turning his life around.

[@analystzorncasteel3047]

Amazing the way he's turned around his life.

[@analystzorncasteel3047]

@@HeyHiHowdy6969 He did a plea deal ... So what? All accusations aren't true. Your comment means literally nothing.

[@briangriffith4574]

@@analystzorncasteel3047 yeah you are right, someone with a long criminal record getting arrested once again means absolutely nothing.

[@analystzorncasteel3047]

@@briangriffith4574 Being accused of Domestic means nothing. .. and doing a plea does not mean you did it - You're doing it to simply get rid of it, and move on.

[@analystzorncasteel3047]

@@HeyHiHowdy6969 - He, as far as anyone knows, got himself off of the 💊 addiction. But whatever *you* 're addicted to, it's obviously getting the best of you - because you're one miserable sonofab*tch.

[@briangriffith4574]

@@analystzorncasteel3047 so getting arrested, spending time in jail and pleading guilty and being sentenced all mean absolutely nothing according to you. Man theres a bunch murderers in prison that wish they had you on their jury.

[@T59-j7k]

Love it when he fills in as a talk show host and he admits his failure and has been humbled

[@71jbear]

I saw a clip of Ryan on the Rich Eisen show-i thought he was pretty good in that role. I hope he continues in a positive direction.

[@thatonefatguy9043]

Why JaMarcus Russell is considered worse than Leaf is beyond me

[@iamalive.1255]

I wish him the best. Nobody's perfect. He's one of those people that so bottom he was below even the rock if that's possible. I root for people that get their life together.

[@robertromero8692]

He richly deserves every bad thing that happened to him.

[@iamalive.1255]

@@robertromero8692 yeah and he will freely admit that but when you stop being the way you were and trying to be a better person then........

[@EmEsjay1]

He was suspended a few games in high school for flicking off the crowd. That had me laughing so hard made me think of Kenny Powers from eastbound & down.

[@sportsfaniguess154]

“How BAD was Ryan Leaf actually?” “Unfortunately, Ryan Leaf was not good in his debut generation” If you know, you know.

[@GeraldGeronimo]

I knew there was a problem when I saw him in a Pacific Beach club getting wasted the night before a preseason game during his rookie season.

[@bhwre]

Imagine if he went to colts. He could have gotten a head start on his addiction with the help of his owner.

[@bomboclat10]

really great way to close this one out mate much respect

[@StevenEveral]

As bad as Ryan Leaf was, if the Chargers never got Ryan Leaf, they would never have been able to get LaDanian Tomlinson.

[@EyesHaveMiles420]

No Super Bowls, though.

[@cliffpaul2483]

@@EyesHaveMiles420 sheesh with those subscriptions of yours, you have no opinion

[@theaveragesimmer4780]

Colts fan since I was 5 years old in '94. Grew up having Peyton Manning, other than my own father, being my childhood hero. Being a Colts fan, Ive always followed Ryan Leaf. Deep down, he is a good man. He was recently an analyst for the 2023 draft on NFL network and he was awesome at it. Great guy, I am so glad he has turned his life around.

[@wildfiremicro6877]

Thank you for showing respect and bringing up how Ryan Leaf is trying to better himself. Some people forget the human behind the player

[@jay2thaudy]

If only he was raised better. He was an entitled asshole.

[@coryhoneycutt3699]

Lmao. To think me and my friends used to debate who the colts should take in the draft that year. You just never know.

[@MRB16th]

For what it's worth, I have an alternate franchise map if the Colts had drafted Leaf in 1998. Here goes: * The Colts would have relocated to LA around 2005, and the Raiders (with Al Davis at the helm) would have followed them there. * The Chargers - with Peyton Manning at QB - stay in San Diego, winning a Super Bowl or two, and gaining a fan base to match. * The Rams also stay in St. Louis (since the Colts and Raiders eliminate any reason for them to return to LA). * After the Lions hit rock bottom in 2008 (both on and off the field), the big money investors win out, and they end up moving to Las Vegas. * Houston recieves an expansion team as in our timeline (either as the Texans, or a continuation of the Oilers). * And to fill the void left after the Colts and Lions relocated, Indianapolis and Detroit would recieve expansion teams (since there's no way that the NFL would leave these markets without a team).

[@ThatNoobKebow]

*Season Ending Shoulder Injury* >Holding his Knee

[@jamesbond40987]

At 1:48 reminds me of Waterboy, where the defender is tauting Bobby.

[@jakerojas341]

Every time you thought he turned "the leaf" .. he turned "it over"

[@davidlrogers]

i've watched his podcast and it's great to see him doing better. he's actually a pretty intelligent guy and has matured a lot.

[@brentbare3698]

And we all thought Johnny Manziel was bad. 😆

[@Tommy88-]

He pulled even more bs than Ryan did lol.

[@chrismercer9135]

I hated his type in HS... Cocky, arrogant, and all round jerk. I enjoyed seeing him fail in San Diego, he finally got from the game what he put in... Nothing. However, I now respect him more than most NFL stars, for overcoming his demons, and taking his story and message to the people that need to hear it the most. The youth. They need to know what toxic behavior and attitude will do for you, and more importantly, they need to know the dangers of opioids. If one child says no to pills because of Ryan Leaf, his life and legacy become Canton-esque and his journey praise worthy.

[@brentburton79]

This guy really had the talent to be great. 10 cent brain million dollar arm. Maturity issues were everything. Damn shame, he really could have been greay

[@Tacofiend92]

hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard

[@MavisRecon]

1:04 this pitch is oddly similar to Klaus's pitch on Danuta.

[@holdenjames2723]

Day 28 of asking nonstop sports to bring the deep voice guy

[@alexhobbs1031]

I’m with you on this

[@King_Karnage]

Hard work will always beat talent when talent doesn't work hard

[@Tacofiend92]

you're god damn right

[@nickma71]

Imagine his talent combined with Tim Tebow's work ethic.

[@cwmims]

How you gonna get suspended on your day off? A little Friday reference. Nice!

[@Tadicuslegion78]

Ryan Leaf, and a whole slew of other players show the dark toxic side of football from High School to NFL

[@johnmiller5679]

He got the money like so many others did and did nothing to earn it. Peyton sat in a room watching films for hours to get ready for games while Leaf got drunk at strip clubs. Peyton did not do that great in his first year either but he did not totally embarrass himself like Leaf did. And Peyton looked Like he was trying while Leaf looked like he was late for a Vegas trip.’

[@robertbarnes4666]

The Chargers had several red flags and chose not to pay attention

[@sheckyfeinstein]

Wow, that’s bad. I have heard him in 2021 doing radio interviews for a local sports station in town. He seems to have mellowed considerably.

[@npc1386]

The background music kills this.

[@PolishBehemoth]

No it really doesnt

[@fizzbrew]

Agreed

[@Corsavette02]

My dad had printed out the schedules for those years...and would put little notes about the games along with the final score...HE STILL HAS THOSE SCHEDULES POSTED IN THE GARAGE... the last season just has "Leaf" written next to all the losses...

[@9doggie12]

Love the Friday referrence

[@manny75586]

He guest hosts the Rich Eisen show quite a bit. It's really clear he has a good vision on the things he's done wrong and how he should have acted differently. Not all of us get that sort of clarity on what we could have changed. I know he does talks for incoming players at times too so they can learn to try to avoid the mistakes he made. I truly hope he stays on his current path and helps others understand that struggle isn't the end.

[@timfranz53]

Watched something on ESPN about Ryan leaf, when I heard he got addicted to pills I felt horrendous for him. Going from a nfl qb to out of the league within that short window of time, it must’ve done damages on his mental health. These people are human and sometimes we tend to forget about that.

[@xTristan69x]

Imagine how even worst of a Bust he would be if the Colts took him at 1 Yikes

[@grandeboy2858]

Never call UCLA the “Bears” ever again

[@stacktus9158]

Ryan Leaf did not blow off the meeting with the Colts. The Bears had requested an MRI on his thumb and medical trumps everything so he had to go do that when he was supposed to meet the Colts.

[@b_side8669]

Chargers need to bring back those dark navy blue uniforms

[@uzkhan9803]

Those are there alternates

[@thetrain3302]

If it wasn’t for Ryan Leaf, San Diego would have never drafted LaDanian Tomlinson. That’s the only good thing the Bolts ever got from Leaf

[@jessedellross3245]

The warning signs were all there. And Ryan wasn’t willing to change or mature. Second only to Russell as worst qb draft pick in history.

[@Kaddywompous]

I wouldn’t put Leaf second to anybody.

[@jessedellross3245]

@@Kaddywompous I consider leaf and Russell a 1 and 1a situation. They are both so bad it’s hard to pick one as the worst ever. Russell’s film tape story ALONE makes it a conversation

[@sto1238]

It’s a toss up for who’s the worst imo. I’m obviously biased so I’ll say JaWalrus was the absolute worst but Leaf does have a good case as well

[@Kaddywompous]

@@sto1238 I’m old enough to remember how jaw droppingly good they both looked in college. Crazy arm strength.

[@logicaldude3611]

A lot of people forget about Heath Shuler, 3rd overall pick in 1994. Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in the NFL and finished with 15tds and 33ints in his short career. He's a nice guy so he doesn't get slammed like Russell and Leaf, but the guy was an absolutely atrocious NFL QB. And at least those two improved from year 1 to year 2 in their career, Shuler just kept getting worse and worse.

[@elfofcourage]

This is like False Swipe Gaming’s “How good/bad was a Pokémon actually” videos.

[@knutthompson7879]

In that Rose Bowl you had Tom Brady on the sideline with a clipboard and baseball cap while Brian Griese (who had a decent run, but was no one's Pro Bowler) and Ryan Leaf (complete trainwreck) played with a national championship on the line. Which is wild to think. But Leaf was just so big and brash and skilled and productive in college, it is easy to see what the scouts saw. Until you peel off the layers and everything that happened subsequently makes sense. Definitely a sad story.

[@jobu88]

The parents and especially the dad have to be a huge part of how someone develops into such a lazy, egomaniac, waste-of-talent situation like Leaf. He's not the first and not the last guy who dominated in high school, dominated in college, and then couldn't be serious about doing the things you have to do to be a professional, putting in the work and being dedicated. Doing what Peyton Manning did, in other words.

[@brandonowens3131]

😆. No That shit is for the birds. Also stop using manning as God like football example. I'm from TN and love Manning. His family done him right by values. Leaf had the same. He chose the wrong path. It happens

[@robertromero8692]

There is only one person who is responsible for Leaf being a lazy, irresponsible, immature waste of talent, and that is Ryan Leaf.

[@jessekauffman356]

All these red flags you think they would've known

[@YOSSARIAN313]

"When you look at the world through rose colored glasses red flags just look like flags" They were blinded by his generational physical talent. If he had peyton or bradys work ethic and charachter he probably would have been a multiple time mvp

[@malcomreynolds4103]

lol two MAJOR errors in this that makes me doubt a lot of this. Leaf wasn't invited to the combine - at least not initially. he declared so late that it was technically too late for him to get in, but then they decided to kick out matt hasselbeck and surprised leaf with an invite just before the combine without being aware he needed to be preparing. Also not correct he 'skipped' the colts interview. he was scheduled for a medical examination at the same time, and medical always takes precedence over anything else. umm...like where the hell does the idea of a vacation to vegas come from?

[@thoughtfulbobcat1872]

Some players think that once they make the pros the hard work is over when in fact that's when the hard work intensifies.

[@slanderman3296]

We called him, "ryan queef" in a Eric cartman voice

[@Davepool-hs7vr]

Don't you mean Crying Queef?

[@slanderman3296]

@@Davepool-hs7vr the queef that got away