Ryan Leaf reached out to Johnny Manziel's agent: 'It's like a mirror'
The former NFL quarterback weighed in on Johnny Manziel's current situation.
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2 min read
When Ryan Leaf looks at the situation Johnny Manziel now finds himself in, he feels as if he's looking into a mirror. Say what you want about Leaf, a former first-round pick whose NFL career and personal life capsized, but he's probably qualified to spot a disaster when he sees one, namely because he used to be that disaster.
On Friday, Leaf weighed in on Manziel, who was recently involved in an alleged incident with his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley. In a police report that was released Thursday, she alleged that Manziel assaulted her. Leaf, speaking with The Afternoon Show with Tim Cowlishaw and Matt Mosley on KESN-FM, revealed that he actually tried to get into touch with Manziel.
"It's like a mirror. It really is," Leaf said, per The Dallas Morning News. "I listen to and I hear stuff that's being said and what's going on, and it's like a mirror to me. I can relate to certain things. I called my old agent, Dave Dunn, and I got his agent's contact info and I reached out. I don't know what that meant or anything. There's a solution. There always is. But it's so hard to see when you're on this pedestal and you think you don't need help."
Leaf also stated the obvious: Manziel needs help.
"You don't want to be vulnerable because you're this big, strong football player, and help means weak. And it doesn't. Asking for help might be the strongest thing you will ever do," Leaf said. "So it's hard because it was so fun to watch him. He was a great college quarterback, and he's very capable and people want to cheer for him. And now, Cleveland dislikes him so much to the point that -- like San Diego just went on me to a point where you just got to get out of town. But me going to get out of town and getting a new start, it didn't work for me there. ...
"I couldn't restart it, and I'm worried that he's not going to catch on somewhere else and be as successful as he's being as capable of being. I hope he can."
Leaf was taken by the Chargers with the second-overall pick in the 1998 draft (immediately after the Colts drafted Peyton Manning). He ended up playing in just 25 games (four with Dallas), completing less than 50 percent of his passes and failing to compile a passer rating above 50. The last game he played in came during the 2001 season. He eventually ended up in prison and was released in 2014.
At least right now, Manziel doesn't appear to be headed to prison, as police announced Thursday night that they will not be charging him. Still, his personal life and football career don't appear to be in a healthy place, as his father told The Dallas Morning News, "I truly believe if they can't get him help, he won't live to see his 24th birthday."
Furthermore, Manziel's agent terminated their working relationship Friday morning. The Browns also seem to be done with Manziel and the Cowboys reportedly have no interest in acquiring him this offseason.
