A decades-old beef reignited on Radio Row.<\/p>\n
San Diego sports talk personality Scott Kaplan alleged during Wednesday\u2019s show that former Chargers bust Ryan Leaf tore into former team doctor and longtime foe Dr. David Chao \u2014 whom he previously sued \u2014 while on Radio Row in San Francisco in a scene that the host described as \u201cvery aggressive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kaplan alleged that Chao, who appeared on \u201cKaplan and Crew\u201d that day, had been waiting for his spot when Leaf approached and turned up the hostility.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Dr. David Chao (l) allegedly being confronted by Ryan Leaf (bottom right) in a video. @Kaplanandcrew\/YouTube<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not making a big deal out of it,\u201d said Chao<\/a>, who said he never felt threatened during the interaction. \u201cI wish the best for Ryan. I\u2019m not sure why \u2014 over the 10 years here at Radio Row, I\u2019ve seen him dozens of times. This is the first time he\u2019s ever said anything to me. This season, when Quentin Jammer was defending me when he was attacking me randomly, he said, \u2018I\u2019ve told him to his face.\u2019 I\u2019m like, \u2018No. That was (the) first interaction I\u2019ve had with Ryan since he left San Diego.\u2019 I went to Ryan\u2019s wedding. I wish him the best in his recovery and everything else. I\u2019ve stayed out of the fray.\u201d<\/p>\n Chao added that he defended himself during Wednesday\u2019s interaction against allegations he claims Leaf has made regarding his role with the Seau family following Junior Seau\u2019s death by suicide in 2012.<\/p>\n He said the ex-quarterback has asked him if he went to widow Gina Seau\u2019s house to convince her not to study the ex-Charger\u2019s brain following his death, and Chao claimed he told Leaf he had faulty details.<\/p>\n \u201cGina and her oldest daughter came to my house the day after Junior died and asked me for advice on how to study the brain,\u201d Chao said, \u201cand I got the brain studied at the NIH (National Institutes of Health). I said, \u2018You got your facts wrong, you\u2019re full of s\u2013t.\u2019 Whatever, I\u2019m not going to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n Chao claimed he said he\u2019d 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\u2019s show that day.<\/p>\n Kaplan alleged Leaf said at one point: \u201cF\u2013k you and f\u2013k Ross Tucker.\u201d<\/p>\n The situation bothered Kaplan.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t figure out what\u2019s wrong with him,\u201d Kaplan said. \u201cIt\u2019s a completely unprofessional thing to do \u2026 to walk into Radio Row, wearing a credential where you\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryan Leaf after being drafted by the Chargers. AP<\/p>\n Chao later indirectly alleged that Leaf gave him the finger following their incident, but indicated he\u2019s not looking for him to receive any discipline.<\/p>\n \u201cSnitches get stitches,\u201d Chao said. \u201cI am not gonna report Ryan to anyone. It didn\u2019t get physical, it was words. Was it inappropriate? You judge.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leaf-Chao beef goes back to their time together with the Chargers.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Dr. David Chao on Radio Row in 2022. Getty Images for SiriusXM<\/p>\n Chao worked for the Chargers from 1997-2013, per his LinkedIn bio, before stepping down ahead of the 2013 season<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n