Former #2 pick Ryan Leaf gets his sentence

[GRENDEL]

By MJD | Shutdown Corner – 11 hours ago



AP
A pair of noteworthy San Diego Chargers hit milestones in opposite directions this week. For LaDainian Tomlinson, things were about as good as they get. For Ryan Leaf, well, things are every bit as bad for him as they appear to be in the picture above.

The sentence he got from a judge in Great Falls, Mont., on Tuesday does keep him out of jail, but at this point, even that might be a loss for Leaf. He'd been behind bars since April 2 and called that time a "sanctuary."

He also offered these three statements to the court. First, speaking of his parents, who were not at the hearing:

"They believe I've held them for ransom for 36 years, and I don't understand why I should have to do that any more."

"I'm lazy, and dishonest and selfish. These were behaviors I had before my addiction kicked in."

"Five to 10 years of Ryan-free drama for my family, this community — particularly for this nation — would be pure bliss for people."

It might be pretty nice for Ryan, too. It's just that he's shown a remarkable inability to live that drama-free life he spoke of.

Leaf's been fighting a painkiller addiction, one that's driven him to multiple acts of burglary over the past few years. Police found stolen prescriptions drugs in Leaf's possession back in March, when he was already on probation. Released on bail, Leaf then robbed a mobile home in search of more pills. He still has outstanding charges in Texas, too.

Leaf was, in 1998, the second overall pick in the NFL draft, and considered by some to be a better quarterback prospect than the man who went first, Peyton Manning. Leaf never adjusted to being an NFL quarterback, though, mostly due to the laziness, selfishness and dishonesty he cited above. He is considered to be the biggest draft bust in NFL history.

Unfortunately, he hasn't fared much better as a citizen. I hope for the best for the guy, but at this point, when he's on his 48th chance and he's begging for jail time, I don't know that there's much left to hope for.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...2937--nfl.html

[713]

Meh, Jamarcus Russel was a better bust.

[GRENDEL]

Should be #2 pick, my fault on the thread title

[A_3PO]

Put him on suicide watch. He needs serious help.

[rocketfan83]

I didn't even recognize him.

I heard him on the radio a while back it sounded like he got his life together...Apparently not

[The Real Shady]

Meanwhile. Peyton is still ballin.

[Lil Pun]

He looks like a lunatic in that pic.

[Fulgore]

Looks like Tom Green

[MadMax]

I realize I'm a glass half full guy, but this sounds like self-awareness and acceptance of responsibility to me. I'm hoping it means a change for him.

[jdh008]

Originally Posted by rocketfan83 I didn't even recognize him. I heard him on the radio a while back it sounded like he got his life together...Apparently not

I've heard this from him at several different points, most notably while he was QB coach/golf coach at WTAMU. And I honestly believed him.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by MadMax I realize I'm a glass half full guy, but this sounds like self-awareness and acceptance of responsibility to me. I'm hoping it means a change for him.

It's just the addiction talking.

[tallanvor]

I still like him more than Tony Romo

[Nook]

Ryan Leaf is a huge right wing neocon.

[ubigred]

I do not think there will ever be a bigger bust than him.

[raining threes]

Originally Posted by ubigred I do not think there will ever be a bigger bust than him.

JaBust Russell

[pouhe]

Originally Posted by raining threes JaBust Russell

The thing is, the Raiders HC at the time objected to the pick; everyone knew he was a bust but Davis. Leaf on the other hand was a legitimate #2, especially with Manning off the board. Leaf kind of just decided to be a jerk at the wrong time, and Gilbride was probably too nice or analytic of a guy to command respect or set any kind of an example.

[ubigred]

Originally Posted by raining threes JaBust Russell

Consider the hype and it's not even close.

[YaoMing#1]

The mest up part of this is had he just handled his business on the field he could have popped as many pain killers as he wanted too, without getting In Any trouble what so ever. The dude had serious potential and was a great prospect. He just didn't take it serious And the pain killers kept him from staying focused on the task.

[Classic]

Terrible.

Originally Posted by SI Ex-NFL QB Ryan Leaf sent to prison Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, taken one pick after Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL Draft, was sent to Montana state prison after being kicked out of a residential drug program, reports the Great Falls Tribune (via ProFootballTalk). Leaf was at the rehabilitation center to start a five-year prison term. He had been arrested twice in less than a week – in March and April of last year — for trying to steal prescription painkillers. But officials “terminated Leaf from the treatment program and placed him in prison after he was found guilty of behavior that violated conditions of his drug treatment placement,” Dawn Handa, regional probation and parole administrator in Great Falls, said in a statement to the Great Falls Tribune. “The violations included threatening a program staff member.” Leaf would have been in line to serve only about 15 months of his sentence if he had successfully completed the rehab program, the paper reported. Leaf, the strong-armed quarterback from Washington State, was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the second pick in the NFL Draft. He struggled on the field and played in only 25 career games. He has dealt with substance abuse issues in subsequent years. http://tracking.si.com/2013/01/17/ry.../?xid=ob_blogs

[GRENDEL]

Just awful, what a waste of his life.