From Jackass to Likeable: The Remaking of Ryan Leaf

Let's just get it out there and say what needs to be said: Ryan Leaf was a bad NFL quarterback. 

His stats ...

... were atrocious.

His career record as a starter ... 4-17 ... was horrendous.

His attitude was downright nasty. And his arrogance was palpable.

Being the No. 2 overall quarterback behind Peyton Manning will do that, well, did that, to Ryan Leaf.

And, to be honest, he never really stood a chance after that.

The expectations heaped upon the young man from Washington State were so heavy that nearly anyone would have collapsed under it.

The San Diego Chargers, who had the No. 3 pick in the draft in 1998, traded away two first round picks, a second round pick and three-time Pro Bowler Eric Metcalf just to get a chance at one of the two quarterbacks.

When Manning, who was considered more mature than the stronger-armed Leaf, went No. 1 to the Indianapolis Colts, the Chargers happily took the former Cougar quarterback for their own.

What ensued was one of the biggest debacles in all of football history. To this very day (although JaMarcus Russell makes a strong case now too) Ryan Leaf is considered the biggest draft bust in history to play the quarterback position.

13 years and 11 more quarterbacks drafted No. 1 or No. 2 overall, will he ever escape the shadow of being an NFL bust?

That is a complicated question with one undeniable truth: no.

Since Leaf's demise in the NFL there have been three more "busts" to come from the No. 1 or No. 2 spots in the draft.

Tim Couch, drafted No. 1 overall the year after Leaf, was out of the league after six seasons.

David Carr, drafted No. 1 overall by the expansion Houston Texans in 2003, has been relegated to one of the league's top career backup quarterbacks.

And JaMarcus Russell, who may very well supplant Leaf as the biggest bust of all time at the quarterback position, is already out of the league after being drafted No. 1 in 2007.

The trappings of being a top pick in the NFL is something very few can handle. There are more players that fail to meet expectations than those that live up to them.

But the quarterback position is different. People always want to blame the quarterbacks. People always want to talk about the quarterbacks. 

People always remember the quarterbacks.

Fans still to do this day will not let things rest with Leaf.

Even when he tries do right people attack.

Ryan Leaf is simply one we'll never forget.

But he has to come to grips with that and now, as a 35-year-old ex-quarterback, ex-coach and recovering drug addict, Leaf is humbled and hoping to start fresh.

There is no doubt that he contributed to his own demise; he'll be the first to tell you so.

But there is also no doubt that he was put into a situation where very few ever succeed.

In reality, we not only remember Ryan Leaf because he bombed out so horribly. We remember Ryan Leaf because his potential was so great.

An article from The Oregonian shed a light on Leaf's current adventures and whereabouts.

An author, motivational speaker and "sometimes" sports announcer, Leaf is enjoying life and embracing the things it has given him.

He had surgery in June of 2011 to remove a benign tumor from his brain stem and will receiver further treatments starting this month.

There are not many who can say they've walked in the shoes of a Ryan Leaf. He went from college superstar, to high-profile draft pick, to bust to drug addict.

All these years later he's still remembered for the worst moments of his life just because he played quarterback in the NFL.

He, like everybody else, deserves a second chance at starting new.

Leaf knows that won't completely happen though. And now when people ask for his autograph or to take pictures he signs his name and politely smiles. As he put it, "It's more flattering and humbling now."

There was a time when neither fans nor Leaf would engage in this act.

13 years later it looks like people are starting to come around. Including Ryan Leaf himself.