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Bucs claim Leaf off waivers
Updated: Saturday March 03, 2001 9:48 AM
By Peter King and Don Banks, Sports Illustrated
The Bucs were the only team to put in a claim for Leaf, who was released Wednesday by the Chargers after three failure-filled seasons. The Bucs will be responsible for assuming Leaf's current contract, which calls for a $1.5 million base salary in 2001. But it is likely that Tampa Bay will ask Leaf to forgo that contract, and accept a deal calling for a salary close to the NFL fourth-year veteran minimum of $418,000. Dallas and Seattle were expected to put claims in for Leaf but neither team did. The Cowboys and Seahawks were interested in Leaf at the NFL veteran minimum level only. Tampa Bay is likely thinking Leaf as a project player only. "It is a very unique opportunity when a player of Ryan Leaf's ability is put on the wire, allowing a team to claim him," general manager Rich McKay said. "We liked Ryan a lot coming out of college and have a pretty good understanding of some of the problems he has experienced over the last couple of years. For us, this could be a short-term free look, but his abilities warrant that we perform due diligence." On Friday, the Bucs contacted the agent of Redskins quarterback Brad Johnson to express interest in opening negotiations. Johnson would be the Bucs starter with current starter Shaun King backing him up. Leaf is a candidate for the team's third quarterback slot. Leaf signed a five-year, $31.25 million deal after being drafted second overall by San Diego in 1998. He was just 4-14 as a starter with the Chargers and threw 33 interceptions and just 13 TDs in that span. The Chargers paid him an estimated $12 million over the course of Leaf's three seasons.
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