While I’m a frequent listener to the local Minneapolis-St. Paul sports talk radio shows, I’ve been tuning in more and more lately to the Dan Patrick Show. I do so because I enjoy the national perspective and because he’s got a variety of guests and issues that are less available at the local level.

This morning Patrick interviewed Tim Carr, an independent film maker who is putting the finishing touches on a movie about Ryan Leaf. Yes, the Ryan Leaf of San Diego Chargers infamy whose three-year career ended with a 4-17 win-loss record and a 14-36 touchdown to interception radio.

Carr defended doing a movie on Leaf because it’s different than stories like Rudy and Rocky that have already been done before. He wanted to take a look at Leaf as a potential subject for “redemption”. And perhaps he’s correct. He told Patrick that though Leaf didn’t want to be involved in the project he was cordial and professional on the occasions when they talked.

He also mentioned that Leaf has been active with charities and had really seemed to find himself after getting back into the game as a coach at West Texas A&M.

In fact, Carr got me curious about possibly watching “Leaf” when it comes out. After all, Leaf was a young man who suddenly found himself with millions and millions of dollars and probably too much free time when he couldn’t make the jump from college star at Washington State to face of the San Diego Chargers then-foundering franchise.

And, in the big scheme of things, though he came off as a jerk at times during his playing days, should a person’s life be defined by whether or not they reach star status in the National Football League? His career was over before he turned 25 – at that point he’s got two-thirds or more of his life left yet to live.

Sadly, Leaf’s “redemption” story hit a snag when he asked one of his players for a pill to help deal with pain from a past injury, an offense for which he ended up resigning from West Texas A&M in November. But here’s hoping Leaf can eventually conquer whatever demons still face him so he can get back into coaching or charity work or whatever it is he needs to make his life feel complete.