Ryan Leaf was prominently mentioned in the Sports Illustrated article centering on allegations by former agent Josh Luchs. Luchs alleged Leaf took around $10,000 in benefits, including cash to pay off a credit card debt, a trip to Las Vegas and a monthly stipend totaling of around $500.
Now retired from the NFL and away from football, Leaf has been working in Canada as a business development manager and now lives in Montana again. He’s also taken up writing, penning columns for Washington State fansite Cougfan.com. They caught up with him today and he responded to the allegations by email, which was posted on the Cougfan message boards:
He (Josh) was a friend of a friend who liked to pick up the tab. We were just kids having fun. Of course, now, as an adult it’s clear that even talking with him was a very stupid thing to do, let alone going on spring break to Las Vegas. I can say, though, that much of what I read in Josh’s reflections was news to me, actually bordering on bizarre in some spots.
You can read the rest of his response here. He admits he was immature and, knowing the lessons he’s learned since then, he wouldn’t follow the same path or associate with Luchs. However, his response still leaves the issue murky as he doesn’t deny Luchs’ allegations but does admit Luchs picked up the tab at times.
Leaf also apologizes for WSU being portrayed in an unfavorable way in the national media today. It’s clear now, and from his actions in the recent past, that he cares greatly about the opinion of fans and alumni of Washington State.
Leaf’s statements fall in line with what Dave Muir said earlier today on 950 KJR. They both maintain neither knew Luchs was an agent and that he was simply a friend of a friend.
We’ll have more from Leaf as it becomes available.