Any Husky or Cougar fan should remember the date November 22nd, 1997. On that day, two nationally ranked teams played a thriller in Seattle. A Rose Bowl berth was up for grabs, and at the helm of both teams were future NFL Quarterbacks. I sat in the stands at Husky Stadium and watched Ryan Leaf torch the Huskies for 41 points. Brock Huard did his best to keep up, but in the end, Leaf had too much fire power, and Cougars were Rose Bowl bound for the first time in approximately 200 years.
I remember thinking that day, as a 16 year old, "damn, that guy is good. Like, crazy good." And he was - physically gifted with the size and talent to be a dominant NFL Quarterback, Ryan Leaf literally had the world at his fingertips.
I remember thinking that day, as a 16 year old, "damn, that guy is good. Like, crazy good." And he was - physically gifted with the size and talent to be a dominant NFL Quarterback, Ryan Leaf literally had the world at his fingertips.
The debate would rage for the better part of six months - who goes #1, Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf? The Golden Boy from Football's First Family of Quarterbacks, or the brash superstar that lead an upstart team to prominence?
It was a decision that would ultimately decide the fate of two franchises. Of course, the Colt smartly took Peyton, and the Chargers took Ryan Leaf. If this clip doesn't explain how badly things went for Leaf in San Diego, nothing will.
His failure as an NFL Quarterback is well documented. What happened to Leaf after football is almost as well documented. He is a drug addict, hooked on pain killers. He has been arrested, sent to rehab, and then arrested again. He had a benign tumor at the base of his brain, and went through radiation treatment.
Not exactly an easy road. As of a week ago, Ryan Leaf was 18 months sober. It appeared that finally, at age 35, Ryan Leaf was getting it together.
News began to leak on Friday that Leaf had been arrested again, this time for a string of burglaries and drug possession. The situation was so severe that a month long investigation was carried out by a special drug task force in Montana.
Leaf was already on probation - after his arrest, he posted bail and went home to await trial. This was on Friday - like, three days ago Friday.
On Sunday, like YESTERDAY Sunday, Ryan Leaf was arrested again. For burglary. Let me reiterate - in the span of 72 hours, Ryan Leaf was arrested twice for burglary and drug possession.
The latest arrest does not provide Leaf with an option for bail - he will remain in prison. I am writing about this because, as an avid Husky fan that will take advantage of any situation to dump on the Cougars, I am heartbroken for Ryan Leaf. There it is, I said it. Heartbroken.
I am the son of an addict. I watched my father piss away opportunity after opportunity, job after job, relationship after relationship until he was literally left with nothing. No family, no job...nothing. Once I was old enough to realize it, I was so angry I couldn't see straight. My anger turned to hurt, and my hurt turned to pity.
I learned over time that it's a sickness - an addict does not act on these impulses because they think it's fun. They are ill, and they have a disease - the addiction is the disease. There is nothing that an addict won't do to fuel their needs, and it doesn't matter who it hurts or what it costs. It ruins families, it costs you friends....it will literally take away anything you hold dear. I know - I've seen it happen first hand, and I wouldn't wish it on anybody, ever.
Ryan Leaf is a sick man. Is he an asshole? Probably. Was he a washout in the NFL? No doubt, maybe the biggest bust in NFL history. Maybe all of his struggles can be attributed back to his disease, and maybe not. Regardless, I feel for him. I want him to get healthy and get his life in order. Nobody deserves to go through what he has gone through and continues to struggle with.
For once in my life, I'm rooting for a Coug. Let's go Ryan, let's go.
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