CHENEY, Wash., July 26 (UPI) -- One of the NFL's biggest quaterback busts after being selected second overall in the 1998 draft, Ryan Leaf did not report to the Seattle Seahawks' training camp Friday and informed coach Mike Holmgren that he no longer wanted to play football.
Leaf, 26, signed a contract with the Seahawks last May after being released by the Dallas Cowboys. Although he flopped on the field and alienated management and teammates with his behavior off the field in his first three seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Leaf was a popular figure here since he starred at Washington State.
He was expected to compete with rookies Jeff Kelly and Ryan Van Dyke for Seattle's third-string job behind starter Trent Dilfer and backup Matt Hasselbeck. Leaf participated in the team's spring minicamps and said he was looking forward to another chance after being waived by three NFL teams, but ended up disappointing the Seahawks as well.
Selected after quarterback Peyton Manning in the 2002 draft, Leaf was a nightmare for the Chargers. He faltered on the field, winning just four of 18 games with 13 touchdowns and 33 interceptions, and missed the entire 1999 season with a shoulder injury.
To make matters worse, Leaf's criticized teammates and management with frequent tirades and forced the Chargers to release him in March 2001.
Leaf signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers later in the month, but was bothered by a sore right wrist and did not make the team. He signed with the Cowboys in October after Quincy Carter tore his hamstring. Leaf lost all three of his starts for Dallas and completed 45 of 88 passes in four games.
In four seasons, Leaf started 21 games and had a dismal quarterback rating of 50.0 with 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.
