All The Busts Aren't In Canton

If you've been hanging around this blog for a while, you've probably noticed that your daily productivity has slowed somewhat and you really should think about getting back to work. You might have also noticed my passing fancy with the world of professional sports. Just recently I reported on the trials and tribulations of the Denver Broncos' search for a franchise quarterback. They sent Tim Tebow and his mania packing in favor of a battle tested veteran who may be playing out his last few games in the Mile High City. It has generated all kinds of amusing anecdotes, not the least of which are the accounts of what lengths other teams went to secure Peyton Manning's services. People across the country were falling all over themselves just to get a chance at throwing more money at this guy.
Way back in 1998, Peyton Manning was considered the "safe choice" for the Indianapolis Colts behind the much more physically gifted kid named Ryan Leaf, who was picked second by the San Diego Chargers. Leaf stated on draft day, "I'm looking forward to a fifteen-year career, a couple of trips to the Super Bowl and a parade through downtown San Diego." The parades weren't in San Diego. They were in Indianapolis. That fifteen year career turned out to be about three. He appeared in twenty-five games and started twenty-one. Conversely, Peyton Manning has won a record four league most valuable player awards, was the most valuable player of Super Bowl XLI, has been named to eleven Pro Bowls, has eleven four thousand-yard passing seasons (including a record six straight), and is the Indianapolis Colts' all-time leader in passing yards (54,828) and touchdown passes (399). Ryan Leaf took his 11.5 million dollar signing bonus and four year 31.25 million dollar contract and disappeared into infamy. He has become the gold standard for sports failure.
Is it any wonder that he turned up this past weekend in Montana, arrested on felony charges of burglary of a residence and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, plus a first-time charge of misdemeanor theft. These counts were backed up on his probation for burglary and controlled substance charges in Texas back in 2009, around the time that Peyton Manning was working his way toward his second Super Bowl appearance.
This must be what Jim McKay had in mind when he talked about the "human drama of athletic competition." Now we can start watching for Tim Tebow to get caught breaking into apartments in New York City.