experienced lefty with a live arm and a comeback story
John Leonard’s most compelling trait is experience under pressure: in the 2002 season, Cincinnati’s preview described him as a veteran option who, if healthy, had the “experience and skills” to win the job after elbow surgery slowed him earlier. He was also noted for having the strongest leg among the kickers in camp, a quirky bonus for a quarterback. The big swing factor is durability, not talent—his 2002 return hinged on recovery from a torn UCL in his throwing elbow, so he fits best with a team that values upside, toughness, and depth rather than a clean bill of health.
