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Leaf needs to prove he's a man

The latest Ryan Leaf saga appears to be over. The savior of the San Diego Chargers organization returned Monday morning with his tail between his legs following a month-long suspension from the team.

On Nov. 1, Leaf was sent home to Montana following a public blow-up with Chargers general manager Bobby Beathard over which physical exercises he had to do.

So, when Leaf returned to the team early Monday morning, he claimed he was a new man.

Well, I'll believe it when I see it.

Since the day he was drafted with the second pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Ryan Leaf has been a thorn in the Bolts' side. Following the draft itself, Leaf chartered a flight with his buddies and spent the night gambling and drinking in Las Vegas, despite the fact that he had to meet the media the next morning.

The following day, visibly hung over, Leaf met with the media and promised to be the kind of team leader San Diego thought he could be.

That lasted for about six months.

The Ryan Leaf illusion faded early last season when, while visiting his alma mater, Washington State, he made a first-round ass of himself in some local bars. In a single night, he beat the crap out of somebody, dumped a pitcher of beer on someone and had to be removed from a bar, all while screaming that he could buy and sell everyone inside. Oh yeah, and it was Parents' Weekend.

Then he got caught screaming at San Diego Union-Tribune writer Jay Posner, telling the journalist to "get out of my face" on national television.

By then, the honeymoon with Chargers was definitely over. Before this season started, San Diego signed journeymen Jim Harbaugh and Erik Kramer, making Leaf a third-stringer on the team he was supposed to salvage.

So what are the Chargers to do with Ryan Leaf?

Start him, of course.

The Bolts are a measly 4-7, and their offense has been sputterring for the past five weeks. Starting "Cryin' Ryan" is the only way to find out what kind of potential he has. If he plays poorly, release him. If he puts up monster numbers and continues his contrite attitude off the field, invest in him for the future. Who else is going to quarterback the team to another Super Bowl, Jim freaking Harbaugh?

He appears ready to be a man. He's newly married, to a Charger Girl no less, and his pretty boy attitude seems to be fading with each passing day. The only question that remains is whether or not he acts like one off the field.

Remember, linemen won't block for a quarterback they dislike.