Ryan Leaf story

[Barbershopman]

Wow!! For a total bust, his story is one that could teach people something.

Ryan Leaf is regarded as one of, if not the biggest bust in the NFL. He was the 2nd overall pick in the 1998 draft behind Peyton Manning. Going into that draft, they were regarded as equal in talent, history told a different story.

While Manning went onto a certain hall of fame career, Leaf played for four different teams, flaming out after four years in the league. Leaf's combative, toxic attitude alienated him from his teammates, coaches, and many friends.

He eventually got into drugs and got arrested for it. He tells people he talks to that his mug shot is so telling, you can see that his eyes are glazed over and that he doesn't even realize where he is. He spent 32 months in prison.

Today, he is a motivational speaker, particularly to young athletes to share his story to warn them not to go down the same path. He tells them that he is happier now making the money he makes as a motivational speaker, which is significantly less than he was as the 2nd pick in the 1998 draft making $5 million.

For the longest time, his arrogance ran his life telling him he was right, and everyone else was wrong. After his arrest and jail time, he realized that his arrogance was the reason for his downfall.

He said that, while he doesn't recommend it, his jail time was the reason he is where he is today. He recently joined ESPN as a college football analyst. Congratulations to the man for realizing he needed to change, and for turning his life around for the better.

Barbershopman

 

[Tenebrae]

Honestly, this is more about life in general than about sports. And it is a very interesting story.

For the less talented of us, it feels so wrong when a gifted individual decides to squander his gift. The guy could have made millions as an athlete, literally getting paid for practicing what most of us treat as a hobby... and instead he wasted his health and talent on fucking drugs Just thinking about all the clean kids who didn't get picked because they were just a notch less good than he was...

I know life is not supposed to be fair and all, but it proves that enforcing the law, especially in the area of drugs, is paramount, and also that you can turn your life around if you are humble enough to make the right choices. I hope that he'll serve as an example for the future generations, and congratulations to him for coming out of this somewhat on top. There's countless of others who are now still sitting in jail or are even dead.

 

[Barbershopman]

He said in the piece that the time he spent in jail "broke and humbled" him. I'm glad he realized that. It sounds like he is using his "second chance" to influence others in a positive manner.

As you said Tenebrae, there are countless others sitting in jail or dead that don't realize that they can turn their life around. They have the ability and just need the willingness to do so. And as you said, this is more than a sports story, it is a life story. You may not have the skills that Leaf did, but, if you are willing to work at it, you can make your life the way you want it to be.

Barbershopman