Ryan Leaf may or may not have done the Indianapolis Colts a massive favor prior to the NFL Draft 24 years ago, but the former quarterback insists he did not concoct a scheme to manipulate anyone.
Leaf was hosting “The Rich Eisen Show” during the week and revisited the infamous 1998 draft where the Colts were choosing between him and Peyton Manning at the top. Leaf brought up the subject because the NFL Scouting Combine was going on, and the former quarterback wanted to talk about his experience.
Leaf lamented how he hit the banquet circuit after his college season ended rather than prepare for the combine. Still, he said he looked good enough at the combine based on has talent — and impressed people at his Pro Day — to the point that the Chargers were salivating to pick him.
But before he went to San Diego, the Colts had the No. 1 pick and were considering him. They wanted to meet with Leaf at the combine, but Leaf missed his meeting with them. That left former Colts coach Jim Mora upset with Leaf over what he felt was a slight.
Leaf’s former agent Lee Steinberg added some spice to the story in a book he published years ago in which he claimed he advised Leaf to blow off a pre-draft meeting with the Colts.
However, Leaf says that’s not really what happened.
Whole hosting the show, Leaf denied Steinberg’s claim. Leaf said that the Chicago Bears, who were picking No. 5 in the draft, asked for a closer medical check of his thumb.
Leaf said he broke his thumb in high school, and the Bears wanted an exam for it.
“So they scheduled the X-ray — and medical takes precedence over any meetings you are to go to — (and the appointment was) exactly at the same time I was supposed to meet with Jim Mora and the Indianapolis Colts. So, I missed it.
“There’s been many stories, speculation that I missed it on purpose. … and that was never the case. We just missed it. We missed it. We didn’t really comment on it. Bill Polian and Jim Mora Sr. were incredibly upset. My meeting with (former Chargers GM) Bobby Beathard and the Chargers went really well. I assume they couldn’t have been happy with the fact that I came in overweight, but I immediately got a trainer down in Newport Beach and I went to work.”
Leaf was taken by the Chargers at No. 2. Even if he denies trying to intentionally anger the Colts, he admits he was happy with where he ended up.
“I liked the idea of going to San Diego, of course, because of everything that it meant,” he said. “It meant money, California, beach babes, all of that, and that’s what I wanted. We let Indianapolis know that I was not interested.”
Leaf eventually became one of the most notorious NFL Draft busts of all time. He later went to jail for drug charges. The 45-year-old has been open about his shortcomings and even cracked some funny jokes at his own expense. That said, his explanation of “we just missed it” with the Colts meeting is a little tough to believe.
