On Draft Day, The State Of Texas Selects Ryan Leaf #1

#1 most wanted that is…it seems that some members of the Texas law enforcement community would like for Mr. Leaf to pay them a visit.   It seems they have issued not one, but two arrest warrants for Leaf.  The Texas prosecutor who brokered a 10-year probationary sentence for Leaf two years ago on drug and burglary charges filed a motion to revoke Leaf’s probation, essentially declaring the former NFL quarterback a fugitive from justice.

The trouble is that Leaf is already in jail in Montana.  Leaf was arrested in Great Falls twice in the last month, both times he was found in possession of stolen oxycodone.  Leaf made an initial appearance on the Texas warrants yesterday via video from the jail in Cascade County, Montana, where he is awaiting arraignment on May 3rd in lieu of a $126,000 bond.

Honestly, this story would be comic if it weren’t so tragic. It would be one thing if the guy were just a failed football player; the punchlines for that almost write themselves. But Leaf’s tale is so much more than that.

In 2001, Leaf married a Chargers cheerleader, but this marriage was short-lived. They separated two years later and eventually divorced. Then, Leaf went back to college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in arts and humanities from Washington State in May 2005.

The following year, Leaf joined the West Texas A&M coaching staff as a volunteer quarterbacks coach in 2006. For a while, it seemed Leaf had given himself a new beginning, but in November 2008, Leaf was put on indefinite leave and subsequently resigned from his coaching position at West Texas A&M for allegedly asking one of his players for prescription drugs.

In May 2009, Leaf was indicted on burglary and controlled substance charges in Texas.  He was undergoing drug rehab in British Columbia at the time of the indictment and was arrested by customs agents as he returned to the United States.  On June 17, 2009, he posted $45,000 bond in Washington state for the criminal charges in Texas.

In April 2010, Leaf pled guilty to seven counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and one count of delivery of a simulated controlled substance. Leaf was sentenced to 10 years of probation and fined $20,000.  While sorting out all of this mess, Leaf made several public appearances and seemed as though he had turned a corner in his struggle with addiction.

Then in June 2011, Leaf had surgery to remove a benign tumor from his brain stem.

One can only hope Leaf can get to where he needs to be to beat his demons.  I can’t even imagine getting knocked down so many time without wondering at which point do you just stop getting up?  Leaf will get another chance to get up, but in the meantime, things are likely going to get worse for him before they get better.

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