Ryan Leaf Sentenced: Former NFL QB Given 5 Years in Drug Treatment Facility

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty two burglary charges and two felony drug possession charges earlier this year.

Fox reports that Leaf will begin his sentence by spending the first nine months in an intensive rehabilitation center. He will then be transferred to a pre-release center for six months. All told, Leaf was sentenced to seven years with the Department of Corrections.

Two years of the sentence will be suspended if the 36-year-old abides by the conditions of his sentence.

“I have found that 80 days in jail has been somewhat of a sanctuary,” the one-time Heisman Trophy finalist explained to the Judge. “I’ve discussed with my family and they believe I’ve held them for ransom for 36 years and I don’t understand why I should have to do that anymore. Five to ten years of Ryan-free drama with my family and this community, particularly with this nation may be pure bliss for people.”

Leaf pleaded guilty last month to burglary and drug possession, which stemmed from two arrests in three days between March 30 and April 2. Leaf was first arrested after police found hydrocodone pills and an empty bottle belonging to an acquaintance who said the prescription was stolen from his home.

Leaf, the second overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, bailed out shortly after his March 30 arrest, but he was caught inside a mobile home two days later in search of more pills.

In addition to the time he faces for his Montana mishap, MSNBC reports that Leaf is currently on parole in Texas for a drug and burglary case back in 2009 and could have several years tacked on to his jail time for that incident.

KPAX has more on Ryan Leaf’s drug case and sentencing in the video below: