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Ryan Leaf, Former NFL Quarterback Arrest In California

PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was arrested in Southern California on Friday.

 

 

NFL Draft
18 Apr 1998: Quarterback Ryan Leaf stands with owner Alex Spanos of the San Diego Chargers during the NFL draft at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport

 

 

Leaf, 44, was arrested on a domestic battery charge in Palm Desert, which is about 110 miles (177 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles, according to booking information provided by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department on Saturday. Leaf is being held on $5,000 bail at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility.

It wasn't immediately known if Leaf had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.

 

 

Ryan Leaf
26 Apr 1998: Ryan Leaf #16 of the San Diego Chargers looks on during Mini-Camp at the Chargers training facility in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport

 

 

Leaf finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1997 and led Washington State to the Rose Bowl. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers as the No. 2 pick in 1998, but he was only 4-14 as a starter in three seasons. He was 0-3 with the Dallas Cowboys in 2001 and finished his four-year career with 14 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions.

He was arrested in 2012 for breaking into a home in Montana to steal prescription drugs, which violated his Texas probation and led to prison.

 

NFL Draft
18 Apr 1998: Running back Curtis Enis, defensive back Charles Woodson and quarterbacks Ryan Leaf and Peyton Manning stand together during the NFL draft at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport

 

 

Last July, Leaf was hired by ESPN to be a football analyst. Leaf worked for the Pac-12 Network last season and has been co-hosting a show on SiriusXM's Pac-12 channel.

 

 

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