Ryan Leaf Syndrome....

Ryan Leaf was an outstanding college athlete. If he wasn't in the same draft as Peyton Manning he would have been the unquestioned #1 overall pick. As a matter of fact, in almost every draft in the 10 years before and after 1998, he would have been #1. He looked like Drew Bledsoe and Troy Ainkman mixed into one exciting young QB. He was able to play at the college level and had all of the physical tools and intelligence to make it happen in the pros. If Chad Pennington can win games in this league certainly Leaf could have been at least average. Instead he was a complete train wreck.

Why? What does Mr. Leaf have in common with other 1st round busts? I would take guys like Matt Leinart, Tim Couch, David Carr, Heath Shuler, Joey Harrington and Rick Mirer and compare them to Vince Young, Carson Palmer, Mike Vick, Chad P, and Donavan McNabb. The only difference between the 1st rounders that were able to win consistently, and those who couldn't seem to play there way out of a pickle barrel... is guts.

No one has been in a tougher situation than Mcnabb. Philly has to be the worst place to play in the entire league. That dude was booooed on the stage as the commissioner presented him with his jersey draft day, and he played his first few years in the old Vet stadium, that had striking similarities to an certain infamous, haunted insane asylum that is near by (and yeah, I am comparing those fans to inmates). Even when he won games it wasn't good enough. That being said, he got it done for a decade because he has BALLS.

I have more arm strength than Chad Pennington, before or after his multitude of throwing shoulder surgery's. With the chips stacked against him, in a league with the fastest men on earth playing corner and safety, he still has a winning record and won games in the regular season and the post season. He had the moxy to face his naysayers and go out and make it happen.

Vince Young has been portrayed as a bust. He has a weird throwing motion, unconventional mechanics and hasn't exactly been known as one of the brightest players to ever line up behind center. His 'wonderlic' score from the NFL combine was made public and was extremely low. All he does is win games... with his arm, with his feet and yes, with his HEART. The guy can't except losing, and his coaches and teammates rarely have to because of him. He has made some mistakes off the field but he is going to go much further in the league than his counterpart Matt Leinart because he has the guts to go out on the field and make it happen.

I watched Leinart playing this past week vs. Young's Titans in a simple preseason match up. Matt looked like a scared rabbit on zanex. He played three series and did nothing to show he deserves to be a back up, not to mention a starter. He couldn't even lead his team to a 1st down, forget a touchdown. It's sickening to see a player with so much talent, who has collected millions for very little return, go out and play half hearted. There was little pressure, preseason games obviously don't count, and still Leinart looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

Dude, just let it go and throw the ball! At least go out in a blaze of glory. Throw 10 INT's in the preseason and 20 in the first 4 or 5 games of the regular season. Let them pull you... at least you can tell your grand kids you left it all on the field... and made millions in the process. He is failing anyway, does he want to show his family video of him throwing 3 yard passes on 3rd and 8 and tell them about the good old days 20 years from now?

This league is not lacking QB's, it is lacking GUTS. Coaches won't let their guys go for it, and the players are terrified of making a mistake. Bill Parcells once told Phil Simms that no matter what happened he would back him up as the starting QB after suffering a 4-12 season. He told him to throw the ball and try to win. Their backs were against the wall and the were desperate. Two years later they were hoisting the Lombardy and Phil was the MVP.

You can criticize Rex Ryan's bravado, and 'all or nothing' approach (I know I have). But one thing he and his young QB aren't lacking is GUTS, BALLS and HEART. Maybe their story will have a happy ending like Bill and Phil a generation ago. =)