Ryan Leaf: Peyton Manning reached out during dark point

Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf were selected with the first two picks in the 1998 NFL Draft. One went on to win two Super Bowls and cement himself as a legend. The other was out of the league by 2002. 

With Manning eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, we've heard plenty of untold stories about the former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback. One of the best stories comes from Leaf, who says Manning wrote him a letter at one of the "darkest" points in his life. Per The Athletic's Bob Kravitz:

"When I was in my deepest, darkest hole and struggle, he reached out. I just needed a lifeline, and he was always that guy for me. During a really dark time – this is hard for most to comprehend – but I wouldn't go get my mail. I didn't want to hear from anybody. My roommate would always get my mail.

"I remember once [my roommate] brought me a letter from Peyton, but I ripped it up and threw it away – because that's who I was at the time. Others sent letters; I never read them. I was just hoping to die in there. But he reached out and he always has when things are going bad.

"It's meaningful. He's a guy I could have resented a lot because of his success and my lack of success. But I didn't. He was always such a good human being."

Leaf had a rough life off the football field, battling drug abuse and addiction. After being kicked out of a treatment center, he spent two years in jail on burglary and drug possession charges. More recently, in May, he was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor domestic battery and sentenced to three years probation. 

In 25 games between the San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys, the 44-year-old went 4-17, completing 48.4% of his passes for 3,666 yards and 14 touchdowns against 36 interceptions.

Leaf was one of the more promising quarterbacks out of college, where he threw for 7,433 yards and 59 touchdowns against 24 interceptions in three seasons at Washington State. He was never able to match his collegiate performance, resulting in his NFL career coming to an end quickly.