Fort Lauderdale ? What does it say that three of the first five players selected in the 1998 NFL draft are already out of football?

“It says we’re all nuts,” Arizona coach Dave McGinnis said.

The “we” McGinnis referred to are the scouts and talent evaluators who believed quarterback Ryan Leaf, defensive end Andre Wadsworth and running back Curtis Enis would become standouts. Instead, they will be remembered more for failing to fulfill lofty expectations.

Leaf retired just before the start of Seattle’s training camp after it became clear he had no shot at unseating Matt Hasselbeck for the backup quarterback position behind Trent Dilfer. Leaf also was plagued by wrist problems.

San Diego had so much faith Leaf would develop into a big-time NFL quarterback that they swapped draft picks with Arizona to insure they could pick him with the second overall selection in 1998. Leaf then received an $11.25 million signing bonus with his rookie contract but was a disaster from the start, alienating teammates and media with his lousy attitude.

Fed to the wolves by being allowed to start as a rookie when he obviously wasn’t ready, Leaf completed just 45.3 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He was then suspended for four games after engaging in a shouting match with then-general manager Bobby Beathard in front of the team.

After being released from the Chargers, Leaf failed in stints with Tampa Bay and Dallas. Leaf was 0-3 as a Cowboys starter last season and 4-17 in his career.

“He retired when he got the (signing bonus),” said Cardinals quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst, who was San Diego’s offensive coordinator when Leaf was there. “He just announced it last week.”

Wadsworth didn’t fare better, logging eight sacks in 30 starts after being selected behind Leaf by the Cardinals. At least Wadsworth had a legitimate excuse for his career. Knee woes knocked the former Florida State standout from the game after three seasons. The same goes for Enis, who never recovered from a knee injury suffered his rookie season in Chicago.

Three other 1998 first-round picks Carolina defensive tackle Jason Peter (14th overall selection), Dolphins running back John Avery (28) and Denver receiver Marcus Nash (29) are out of football, while running back Robert Edwards (18) is trying to comeback with Miami after suffering a knee injury after his rookie season in New England.

McGinnis, though, understands why those teams made such mistakes

“Everything is predicated on projections,” McGinnis said. “We’re all nuts making a living in a business as unpredictable as this.’