Johnny Manziel was ‘abused’ in Netflix documentary, says ex-NFL QB Ryan Leaf: ‘You did everyone such a disservice’
- The former Heisman Trophy winner revealed to Netflix that he attempted suicide
- Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf also attempted suicide in 2012
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Former No. 2 overall pick Ryan Leaf has criticized the makers of Untold: Johnny Football for not addressing Manziel’s now highly publicized mental health issues.
Leaf, who has spoken candidly about his own demons, criticized the largely well-received documentary — which premiered Tuesday — from an angle previously ignored.
‘I had high hopes for this. I’d love to hear from Johnny. We probably heard 100 words come out of his mouth during the documentary,” Leaf told Outkick’s Hot Mic starring Jonathan Hutton and Chad Withrow.
‘I mean nothing. I put this on Netflix, I would have loved to talk to the director today and say you’ve done everyone such a disservice.
“Again, people have taken advantage of Johnny Manziel. There were no solutions, no addressing the bipolar diagnosis and how he’s coping and living with it around his substance abuse.”
Ryan Leaf blasted production of Untold: Johnny Football, telling Jonathan Hutton and Chad Withrow that Manziel’s mental health issues were not being adequately addressed everywhere
The former Browns quarterback failed to succeed in the NFL after an electric college career
Leaf was selected No. 2 by the Chargers in the 1998 Draft, but was out of the NFL in 2002
Manziel spoke candidly about attempting suicide following his release from the Browns in 2015
Director Ryan Duffy told the program Monday he was unaware Manziel would reveal his desire to commit suicide during a downward spiral following his release from Cleveland in 2015.
“I don’t know what they were trying to achieve,” Leaf asked. “If they were trying to make a great montage of the college football star, let’s do it, but that’s not what Untold does.
“I blame Netflix. I put it at their feet. I feel like they took advantage of someone I don’t know needed to be lifted again.”
After being picked second overall by the Chargers in 1998, Leaf only lasted four years in the league – he struggled most of that time before finally retiring in 2002. The Washington State legend attempted an end in 2012 to make his life.
Leaf admitted it was valid for the directors to show the drastic depths Manziel had reached, but believes not enough time was spent on the matter.
“They spoke it (in) a snippet and then just didn’t speak it again, the rest of the way.
‘I want him to be there too. I think he can be a beacon of hope to many because he was bigger than life, bigger than anything I could achieve in terms of the way people recognize and know him.
And he can be that for people dealing with mental illness, people dealing with substance abuse; who have fallen to the bottom and have risen again and made something of their lives.”