Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks is not a thug. Seriously. Here’s a kid who grew up in Compton and worked hard for everything he’s got. He was the Salutatorian of his high school class. He earned All-America honors in the triple jump and played both ways on the football team. He got himself into Stanford, where he was again a star in track and football. He completed his Bachelors degree in communications (ironic, that) and is now working towards his Masters. He was All-Rookie his first year in Seattle, and is now considered one of the best players at his position in the league. Yes, he is an arrogant loudmouth and not what you would call a good sport. But Richard Sherman is a testament to the value of hard work for his family, his neighborhood, his team, and – yeah, if you want to go there – to his race.

Now, on the other hand, if you want to see a real pro football thug, let’s go back to 1998. A white kid from Montana, who had enjoyed a privileged and productive time as a quarterback at Washington State University, almost wins the Heisman, and gets ranked #1 in the pro draft. Given this opportunity, he instructs his agent to help him NOT get selected by the Colts – who owned the first pick that year – and he gets picked instead by the Chargers, because he prefers the sunny warmth of San Diego.

His rookie season was a disaster. From the first days of camp, he had a terrible work ethic, skipped mandatory meetings and went golfing instead of studying film. As the season progressed, his bad attitude festered, he developed bad relations with the media, and he publicly turned on his teammates. His next two seasons were no better, and San Diego traded him. The following year, he tried salvaging his career with the Bucs, and then with the Cowboys, but was unsuccessful. And just like that, his pro career was over.

So he did what most ex-jocks do. He went back to college, finished his degree, got a job coaching, and then a series of jobs in the business world. It looked like he was headed for a normal life. But then, in 2009, he was arrested in Texas on charges of burglary and possession of controlled substances. He pled guilty and received 10 years of probation. Just three years later, he was arrested in Montana for burglary, theft and drug charges. Four days later, he was arrested once again. This time he received 9 years in prison, with two years suspended if he participated in a drug treatment program. But, one year ago this week, he broke the conditions of the program and threatened its administrator, and so was kicked out to begin serving the full 9 years.

OK, what’s this guy got to do with Richard Sherman and the upcoming Super Bowl? Well, back in 1998, when the Colts couldn’t draft this kid, they used their pick on a different quarterback. A guy from the University of Tennessee named Peyton Manning. He went on to be known as perhaps the hardest-working, most disciplined player in league history.

Over the next week, Richard Sherman and Peyton Manning will be justifiably lauded in the press for their talents and their hard work. Sherman will have lots to say about himself, Manning will say almost nothing. Sherman will dare Manning to throw the ball his way, and Manning won’t say a word. But heck, they both earned the right.

And come Super Bowl Sunday, watching from the Crossroad Correctional Center in Shelby Montana will be someone who threw away his opportunity. He’s a cautionary tale, the most notorious #1 pick in NFL history, and a true thug. His name is Ryan Leaf.