TAMPA, Fla. – Ryan Leaf, a bust during three troubled
seasons with the San Diego Chargers, will get a chance to revive
his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
|  | | Ryan Leaf gets a chance at redemption in Tampa. |
The Bucs claimed the bad-boy quarterback off waivers Friday,
saying they wanted to take what would amount to a "free look" at
the second pick in the 1998 NFL draft.
"It is a very unique opportunity when a player of Ryan Leaf's
ability is put on the wire, allowing a team to claim him," general
manager Rich McKay said.
"We liked Ryan a lot coming out of college and have a pretty
good understanding of some of the problems he has experienced over
the last couple of years. For us, this could be a short-term free
look, but his abilities warrant that we perform due diligence."
Leaf was released Wednesday, leaving the Chargers with a 4-14
record as a starter and paving the way for San Diego to possibly
select Virginia Tech's Michael Vick with the No. 1 pick in next
month's draft.
The Chargers still owe Leaf, who has thrown more than twice as
many interceptions (33) as touchdown passes (13) the final $2.95
million installment of an $11.25 million signing bonus included as
part of a deal potentially worth $31.25 million.
The Bucs were the only team to put in a claim for him. Leaf's
base salary would be $1.5 million for 2001, however the move may
only wind up costing Tampa Bay the $100 waiver fee.
"We won't owe him anything unless he makes the team," McKay
said.
Leaf is honeymooning in Tahiti and not due home until next week,
when the Bucs plan to meet with the quarterback and his agent,
Leigh Steinberg. The team will decide the next step, based on those
conversations.
Steinberg is optimistic about the prospect of Leaf getting his
career back on track in Tampa Bay.
"That didn't take long did it?" Steinberg asked, adding that
he had not yet spoken to Leaf. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled to find
out."
Steinberg described being claimed by the Bucs as a "dream-type
situation" for Leaf, adding that Tampa Bay would have been high on
the quarterback's priority list if he had cleared waivers and
become a free agent.
Earlier in the day, McKay was coy about plans to upgrade the
quarterback position – either through free agency or the draft –
this offseason.
The general manager said the only certainty is that Shaun King,
who helped Tampa Bay to the NFC championship game as a rookie
before struggling last fall in his second season, remains the
starter.
Bringing in Leaf will not change the club's plans to acquire
veteran help.
There are a number of free agents the Bucs conceivably could be
interested in as a starter or backup, including former Vikings and
Redskins quarterback Brad Johnson.
An inconsistent King led Tampa Bay to a 10-6 regular season
record, then failed to get the team into the end zone during a
first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia.
San Diego had high hopes for Leaf after taking him second in the
draft behind Peyton Manning. But while Manning went on to help
transform the Indianapolis Colts into a playoff team, Leaf's
boorish behavior created immediate problems for himself with the
Chargers.
He was benched for poor play midway through his troubled rookie
season, then missed all of the 1999 season with a shoulder injury.
He once had to be forced away from a heckler during training
camp and was suspended for four weeks without pay in 1999 for
shouting obscenities at then-Chargers general manager Bobby
Beathard.
Leaf appeared to be back on track when he won back San Diego's
starting job last summer. But he was benched after throwing five
interceptions and just one TD in the first two games.
Despite starting the last six games of 2000, Leaf had alienated
teammates to the point that he couldn't regain their respect. One
of the clinchers came when reports surfaced last season that he
played golf even while telling the team his sprained right wrist
was too sore to practice or play.
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