Ryan Leaf
Coming out of Washington State in 1998, Ryan Leaf was an extremely gifted quarterback prospect. It sounds crazy to think about it now, but there was a time where it was a legitimate debate as to whether he should be taken ahead of Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL draft. The problem was, Leaf’s arrogance and narcissistic attitude exceeded any physical gifts he had.
As soon as he faced adversity in the NFL, as a rookie in San Diego, he immediately began to lash out at everyone around him: teammates, coaches, and the media. His ego simply didn’t allow the idea that he could be a part of the problem to ever cross his mind, and his teammates eventually began to resent his totally lackadaisical and detached attitude towards his career and his team. Since retiring from the NFL — after three of the worst seasons in league history — Leaf has been arrested at least 5 times for burglary and possession.