Ryan Leaf released from Montana prison

Ryan Leaf, who has been called "the biggest bust in the history of professional sports," was released from a Montana prison yesterday (December 3) after getting two years for breaking into a home to nab prescription pills.

In 1998, the Chargers traded away two first-round picks, plus a second-round pick and a good player, to move up one notch in the draft to take Leaf second overall. He got a $31.25 million contract. Leaf lasted two years with the Chargers. His first year with the team was a disaster: he threw 2 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions, and completed less than 50 percent of his passes. In all, he spent four years in the league, throwing 14 touchdown passes and being intercepted 36 times.

In 2009, he was indicted on drug charges in Texas; at the time, he was going through drug rehabilitation in British Columbia. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to eight felony drug charges. Then he got into trouble in Montana for breaking into homes and stealing prescription painkillers.

When the Chargers drafted him, the Union-Tribune wrote an editorial stating that Leaf's positive presence would quiet down the controversy in the city over sports-team subsidies. The headline over the editorial was "New hope blooms with Leaf. Chargers QB may help quiet city's controversies."