Ryan Leaf no longer holds Jay Glazer in high regard.
The all-time NFL draft bust stunningly called Glazer, a former ally, a “fraud” and “conman” in a quote tweet on X above a tweet of Glazer and Michael Phelps discussing mental health.
“Glazer is a fraud when it comes to anything mental health or wellness related. He uses it for his benefit and really isn’t invested in any of it unless it benefits him and his brand,” Leaf tweeted Monday morning. “Phelps is an inspiration but it gives me pause that he muddies his mind with that con man. 🤷🏻♂️”
Leaf’s accusations are certainly shockingly and seemingly out of left field since the former quarterback offered little context as to why he feels this way about Glazer, the Fox NFL insider.
Glazer is known for being a mental health advocate, even writing a self-help book “Unbreakable,” and these accusations go against that reputation.
And it wasn’t that long ago that Leaf and Glazer were on good terms.
Leaf, the former No. 2 pick the 1998 NFL Draft, previously spoke highly of Glazer for helping him while he broke into the media business.
Glazer also praised Leaf in 2019 for how he turned his life around following addiction, a suicide attempt and being jailed multiple times.
“This is what I tell him and everyone else: You were put here to help people because if you had panned out like Peyton Manning there would be a lot people that he has since saved that would be dead,” Glazer said of Leaf, who was drafted one spot after Manning.
“That’s as stark and as honest as I can get. He has saved so many freaking people… These veterans just connected with him. We had so many veterans [who] wanted to commit suicide and Ryan would just call or text [them] at the right time cause they needed that big brother push. He also personally has gone into areas to pull our vets out of drug houses. He is the epitome of being of service to others. … He is the most unlikely angel you can ever imagine.”
Outkick speculated whether that has been long-standing resentment from Leaf to Glazer from how Glazer reacted to possibly working with Leaf years ago.
Leaf told Rich Eisen how he wanted to work with Nate Boyer, who partners with Glazer for MVP, which helps veterans and former athletes after their careers end.
“I remember he walked in and talked to Jay and was like, ‘I had breakfast with Ryan Leaf this morning and I wanted to come in,” and Jay’s like, ‘No, no. Don’t bring him in here,’” Leaf said.
However, Leaf acknowledged seconds later that most would have had that impression of him at that point in his life before praising Glazer, saying he has a “huge heart.”
Said Leaf: “Since that moment, Jay has been probably the biggest supporter of mine when it comes to my health but also my career.”