[ad_1]
ESPN hired Ryan Leaf as a college football analyst, which is another milestone in the remarkable return of the former Washington State star who fought against drug addiction and spent in jail.
Leaf will be paired with Clay Matvick, a play-by-play announcer, and will switch to ESPN2 and ESPNU. The former NFL No. 2 among the San Diego Chargers in 1998 worked for the Pac-12 network last season and co-hosts a show on SiriusXM's Pac-12 channel.
Leaf finished third at the Heisman Trophy in 1997 and led the Cougars to the Rose Bowl.
After a tumultuous career in the NFL for four years, Leaf's personal life has collapsed. He spent two years in prison after being arrested in 2012 for entering a Montana home for stealing prescription drugs and for breaking his probation in Texas.
"Ryan has had the highs and lows of football, which has put him in touch with a wide range of situations in which players can find himself," said Lee Fitting, senior vice president of production and marketing. # 39; ESPN. able to build on these experiences – including an incredible academic career where he was an All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist – in his analysis, which makes him a great asset to our team. & # 39;
Leaf told AP Saturday night that after his release from prison in 2014, he had been trying to plan his future and envisioned three paths: the entertainment industry, the law school and sports broadcasting. He took steps to enter each one.
"I had a degree in audiovisual journalism from the Murrow School of Washington State, so I could do it – or at least my know-how." I just did not know what I was doing. would do, "said Leaf.
Leaf, a 43-year-old native of Montana, said he had contacted former players who made the transition to television, such as Joel Klatt, Brady Quinn and Kirk Herbstreit, and that "I'm going to see you again." they allowed him to follow them in the observation.
"I realized two things: I really wanted to do it and I really felt like I could do a good job," Leaf said.
Leaf thanked journalist Jay Glazer of Fox NFL for supporting him and advising him to guide him in his attempts to enter the business; Steve Cohen, vice president of sport programming at SiriusXM, for organizing a show around him; and Ed Placey, ESPN's producer-coordinator for university football, who guided him through the process with the network of all sports.
Greg McElroy (ESPN), another former veteran quarterback, watched closely as McElroy called the Washington State-South Carolina game in Los Angeles last season. This led to an audition in March.
Leaf said he received ESPN's call with the job offer about a month ago while he was traveling to a meeting in Los Angeles. He lives in southern California with his fiancée and 21-month-old son.
"I had to leave the side of the road, I was really moved," Leaf said.
He expects to call games all over the country and do studio shows. The path that leads to the cure of the addiction, which seemed so dark at times for Leaf, has turned into a story of well-being.
"Five years ago, sitting in a prison cell, I would never have imagined to be part of ESPN and Disney Corporation," Leaf said. "If you'd told me that, I would have said you were absolutely crazy, and I can not believe it, I drop my head every night with a ton of gratitude." 39;
[ad_2]
Source link