86 - The Michigan Daily - SportsThursday - September 6, 2001
Failed physical ruins Leaf's warm welcome
Cowboys say no to former Washington State QB, who must explore options with injure<; wrist

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IRVING, Texas (AP) - Ryan Leaf never saw
the welcome the Dallas Cowboys had planned for
him. He failed a physical because of a wrist prob-
lem and remains one of the NFL's many unem-
ployed veteran quarterbacks.
Leaf's name and the number 16 were written in
black on a strip of white tape over a locker in the
Cowboys' clubhouse yesterday. Three pairs of
shoes with 16 printed on the heel, a white prac-
tice jersey, a helmet and several unused hangers
awaited him.
"It was an injury that concerned us enough
that we couldn't make a decision to put him on
the roster," Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones said. "I
know he was disappointed. I don't know that he
was surprised. There's no question he was sur-
prised it would impact our decision as much as it
,. did."
Jones said that after an initial evaluation dis-
covered the problem, specialists were brought in
AP PHOTo give it a further look. He declined to give any
more specifics.

Leaf left the team's headquarters without talk-
ing to reporters, ducking in the front seat of a van
to avoid being photographed.
"Ryan was excited with the Cowboys opportu-
nity and he couldn't be more disappointed about
how it turned out," said David Dunn, Leaf's
agent.
"I think right now, we're going to explore all
our options. The most important thing is his
health and getting his wrist right."
Dunn said he hopes the two sides can strike a
deal once Leaf is healthy.
"I think Ryan thinks the world.of Jerry and the
Cowboys organization. My feeling is Jerry feels
the same way about Ryan," Dunn said.
Leaf, the second overall pick in 1998 draft
after leading Washington State to a Rose Bowl
loss against Micigan, was waived by San Diego
in March and by Tampa Bay on Monday. The sta-
tus of his once promising career is in limbo.
The Cowboys were interested in Leaf as their
third stringer behind rookie starter Quincy Carter

and second-year backup Anthony Wright. They
were initially interested in Leaf in March, having
considered him to replace Troy Aikman. But they
couldn't afford him then.
In Tampa Bay, the wrist problem caused Leaf
pain but only forced him to miss two practices,
said Bucs coach Tony Dungy.
Finances were the reason the Buccaneers
waived Leaf on Monday, Dungy said, adding that
the team was willing to keep four quarterbacks.
Brad Johnson, Shaun King and Joe Hamilton
were ahead of Leaf on the depth chart, which
made him expendable.
"He did a good job for us," said Dungy, whose
team plays Dallas in the season opener Sunday. "I
think it's just a matter of getting in the right sys-
tem and the right situation."
The Chargers made Leaf the second pick in the
1998 draft, behind.Peyton Manning, but got only
four wins in three seasons - including a season
missed because of an injured throwing shoulder.
He was waived in March.

Ryan Leaf was the No. 2 overall pick out of Washington State in 1998.

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AP PHOTO
Rodriguez missed the final two months of last season after fracturing his thumb.

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Knee

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surgery
ends year
for Pudge
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -
Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez will
have surgery on his left knee'and
miss the rest of the season.
The 10-time All-Star made the
decision yesterday after traveling to
Los Angeles to get a second opin-
ion from orthopedist Dr. Lewis
Yocum, the team doctor for the
Anaheim Angels.
His only other option was rest
and medication with hope the
patella tendon inflammation sub-
sided.
"I feel that having the surgery
now is the best way for me to pre-
pare for the next six or seven years
of my major league career,"
Rodriguez said.
"I look forward to coming back
strong next season."
Rodriguez hasn't played since he
was scratched from the lineup just
before last Friday's game at Kansas
City and sent back to Texas for
more evaluation.
The surgery is scheduled for next
week. Club officials said the length
of his recovery won't be known
until after the surgery.
It's the second year in a row
Rodriguez has failed to finish the
season. He missed the final two
months of last year with a broken
thumb, and spent part of this sea-
son on'the disabled list with a
bruised heel.
After Rodriguez left an Aug. 22
game against the New York Yankees
in the second inning when his right
knee locked up on him while squat-
ting, an MRI on both knees initially
showed no problems.
Rodriguez took another night off
but then caught 16 innings in the
Rangers' 18-inning win over
Boston.
He was scratched from the lineup
Friday after team orthopedist Dr.
John Conway became concerned
about something he saw on the left
knee from the earlier test. Another
MRI revealed chronic patellar ten-
donitis - inflammation of the ten-
don that connects the kneecap to
the leg.
Rodriguez could become a free
agent after the 2002 season. Agent
Jeff Moorad has repeatedly
approached the Rangers about a
five-year contract extension worth

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