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A decades-old beef reignited on Radio Row.
San Diego sports talk personality Scott Kaplan alleged during Wednesday’s show that former Chargers bust Ryan Leaf tore into former team doctor and longtime foe Dr. David Chao — whom he previously sued — while on Radio Row in San Francisco in a scene that the host described as “very aggressive.”
Kaplan alleged that Chao, who appeared on “Kaplan and Crew” that day, had been waiting for his spot when Leaf approached and turned up the hostility.
The talk show host praised Chao for how he handled the commotion, and one of the individuals on the show aired a clip of an animated Leaf appearing to speak with Chao.
“I’m not making a big deal out of it,” said Chao, who said he never felt threatened during the interaction. “I wish the best for Ryan. I’m not sure why — over the 10 years here at Radio Row, I’ve seen him dozens of times. This is the first time he’s ever said anything to me. This season, when Quentin Jammer was defending me when he was attacking me randomly, he said, ‘I’ve told him to his face.’ I’m like, ‘No. That was (the) first interaction I’ve had with Ryan since he left San Diego.’ I went to Ryan’s wedding. I wish him the best in his recovery and everything else. I’ve stayed out of the fray.”
Chao added that he defended himself during Wednesday’s interaction against allegations he claims Leaf has made regarding his role with the Seau family following Junior Seau’s death by suicide in 2012.
He said the ex-quarterback has asked him if he went to widow Gina Seau’s house to convince her not to study the ex-Charger’s brain following his death, and Chao claimed he told Leaf he had faulty details.
“Gina and her oldest daughter came to my house the day after Junior died and asked me for advice on how to study the brain,” Chao said, “and I got the brain studied at the NIH (National Institutes of Health). I said, ‘You got your facts wrong, you’re full of s–t.’ Whatever, I’m not going to get there.”
Chao claimed he said he’d be willing to have Leaf on his podcast, an offer he said the quarterback turned down, and mentioned joining him for a spot on ex-NFLer Ross Tucker’s show that day.
Kaplan alleged Leaf said at one point: “F–k you and f–k Ross Tucker.”
The situation bothered Kaplan.
“I can’t figure out what’s wrong with him,” Kaplan said. “It’s a completely unprofessional thing to do … to walk into Radio Row, wearing a credential where you’re here to work for somebody or guest for people, to walk up to somebody and attack them verbally and then really physically get in their face.”
Chao later indirectly alleged that Leaf gave him the finger following their incident, but indicated he’s not looking for him to receive any discipline.
“Snitches get stitches,” Chao said. “I am not gonna report Ryan to anyone. It didn’t get physical, it was words. Was it inappropriate? You judge.”
The Leaf-Chao beef goes back to their time together with the Chargers.
Leaf spent three seasons with the Chargers from 1998-2000 after being drafted with the No. 2 pick, famously going one selection after Peyton Manning.
Chao worked for the Chargers from 1997-2013, per his LinkedIn bio, before stepping down ahead of the 2013 season.
Leaf previously filed a malpractice suit against Chao in 2002 regarding how he treated injuries during his time with the Chargers. Leaf later dropped the case, according to USA Today.
The NFL Players Association had called for Chao to be removed from his post and filed a complaint, per the Associated Press, and the Medical Board of California sought to remove his license at the time.
Three independent doctors “totally exonerated” him in 2013, per ESPN.
Kaplan blasted Leaf for his actions, particularly since he believes Leaf has it wrong when it comes to Chao’s role with the Seau family.
“That’s why Ryan’s out of line, man, totally inappropriate, unprofessional, not cool at all,” Kaplan said.
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