Turning Over an Old Leaf

As the Draft draws near, Ryan Leaf’s name popped up in the news. He received ten years probation for breaking into an apartment to steal prescription drugs.

An unanimous choice for number one all-time Draft busts around the universe, Leaf has become nothing more than a cautionary tale. Being compared to Peyton Manning isn’t really fair to any player, but being selected right after him is criminal. I don’t know if anyone can really completely know the maturity of a 22-year-old man, and the Chargers made what was at the time a “no-brainer” selection of Leaf.

Reading about his continued downfall just reminded of the now infamous question that Bill Polian, General Manager of the Colts, asked both Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf. “If we were to make you the No. 1 overall pick, what’s the first thing you would do?” Peyton answered that he would request a playbook so he could immediately begin learning the Colts offense.  Leaf remarked that he would want to take his friends to Vegas for one last fling. That was the deciding factor between Manning and Leaf.

Some people thought he would be a better quarterback than Peyton Manning.  Now he doesn’t have to worry about that anymore:  his only concern is becoming a better Ryan Leaf.

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