From Pro Football Talk and USA Today

Ryan Leaf pleaded guilty to felony drug possession and burglary charges today in Montana as part of a deal that will see him serve nine months in a treatment facility, followed by six more months in a pre-release center.

Although Montana authorities are expected to suspend the remainder of Leaf’s five-year sentence if he does what’s asked of him in treatment and pre-release, that doesn’t mean he won’t serve significant time in prison. Leaf was already on probation in Texas for similar crimes related to stealing prescription painkillers, and Texas authorities may sentence him to up to 10 years in prison for violating his probation. A determination on his status in Texas is expected to take place next month.

A prosecutor there, James Farren, filed to revoke the former quarterback’s 10-year probation from a 2010 plea deal. Leaf was charged with stealing prescription pain medicine from a player’s home while he was a coach at West Texas A&M. An investigation also found he obtained nearly 1,000 pain pills from area pharmacies in an eight-month span.

Terrell Owens on Dr Phil

Terrell Owens went on Dr Phil on Monday to discuss allegations that he is not paying child support or spending time with his kids. Owens has four children: a 12-year-old son, two 7-year-old daughters and a 5-year-old son. All four children were born to different women. The mothers accused Owens of not spending enough time with his children and falling behind on child support payments. Owens is said to owe $20,000, $13,400, $11,200 and $5,000 a month to the four mothers, but he’s already spent most of the $80 million he earned over his NFL career.

Owens last played in the NFL in 2010 with the Cincinnati Bengals. Over his Hall-of-Fame career, he hauled in more than 1,000 catches for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns. He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills.

Terrell with three of his four baby mamas

Seau’s body released to the family

The body of former NFL linebacker Junior Seau was released to his family this weekend after undergoing an autopsy. The family is planning a private funeral Thursday in Oceanside. A public memorial is planned Friday evening at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

Seau committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest May 2 in a spare bedroom of his home. Researchers have expressed interest in studying Seau’s brain, which may have suffered damage after incurring many concussions during his long football career. It is unclear whether the family will allow the brain to be studied.

Minnesota Senate approves plan for $975M new Vikings stadium

The Minnesota House and State Senate have both passed bills clearing the way for the Minnesota Vikings to get their much needed new stadium. A conference committee will work out differences, and the Vikings are already on record against the House version for a $105 million hike in the amount they would pay. The Senate’s version includes a smaller bump. If both chambers pass the final product, the measure goes to Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, who has led the charge for a new stadium for months.

The Vikings say they can’t make enough money in the 30-year-old Metrodome to compete. If you are a Viking fan or just interested in the inner workings of the NFL and team’s relationships with their state and local governments, check out this interview between Mike Florio and Minnesota State Senator Lester Berger.

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Study shows that former NFL players actually live longer than civilians ???

According to multiple reports, the NFL sent an email to former players on Tuesday, attached to which was the results of a study conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health regarding the differences between the life expectancies of NFL players and non-NFL players.

Somewhat surprisingly (in light of the recent focus on head trauma), the study shows that NFL players live longer than men who didn’t play pro football. What it didn’t show was the quality of the life of between player and non-players as they each grown older.

The study encompassed former players who spent at least five years in the NFL from 1959 through 1993, covering 3,439 men.

With CET (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and concussion litigation against the NFL in the news daily, the study mentions nothing about cognitive impairments resulting from head trauma.

So what does it mean? It could be NFL damage control against the perception that football pro players generally die young. Players that die young, much like Junior Seau and Dave Duerson, get much more press than players that live into their 80s leaving an impression that NFL players don’t live as long as their civilian counterparts.