SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf had to be forced away from a verbal confrontation with a heckling fan on Thursday, the latest episode in his short but troubled NFL career.

Several hours after the tense situation, Leaf said he gets the feeling that no one in the organization wants him around after his contract becomes voidable following the 2000 season.

"Maybe it's in the team's best interests to let me go, but I don't want that to be the case," said Leaf, the second pick overall in the 1998 draft who was benched midway through his disastrous rookie season. "It doesn't seem like there's anything positive around here at all right now."

The fan, 32-year-old Sean Peck, had been heckling Leaf during the Chargers' combined workout with the Miami Dolphins, including singing lyrics from the song "Lonesome Loser" by the Little River Band.

Leaf underwent surgery on his right shoulder early in training camp, which could force him to miss the season, and has been reduced to just watching practices.

Several minutes after the morning practice ended, Leaf was walking across the practice field at UC San Diego with his arm around his 14-year-old brother, Brady, whom he was going to introduce to Dan Marino, when Peck let loose with a verbal barrage.

"Hey, Ryan, you're the worst draft choice in NFL history. You make Heath Shuler look like an All-Star. You're a loser. Go talk to Jimmy (Johnson) and try to get a job next year," he said.

Leaf said Peck also ragged him about him putting his arm around his brother.

Leaf calmly walked back across the field, asking offensive coordinator Geep Chryst and security guards to come with him.

Leaf motioned at Peck, saying, "What's wrong, man, have I hurt you?"

Peck, wearing a Chargers cap and shirt, jumped up, hustled down the bleachers and came within a few feet of Leaf.

"You hurt me, you hurt all of us," Peck said. "You have no commitment."

If it had been most any other player, the incident might have been quickly forgotten. But Leaf made plenty of news with his off-field behavior last year, including a profanity-laced locker room tirade against a reporter.

The Chargers weren't about to let this one get out of hand.

Leaf, who is 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, was forced back by Chryst and defensive backs coach Rod Perry. Chargers spokesman Scott Yoffe repeatedly said, "No, don't do it, Ryan. Don't do it."

Leaf walked off the field and declined comment as he got into a Mercedes convertible and drove away. He did speak following the afternoon practice.

"They thought I was like going to go try to beat his (rear end) or something," Leaf said. "I've been through that, getting that mad at somebody and have it be a big thing. So what I wanted to do was say, 'Hey, look, I've grown up, I'm calm about it, I would like to understand why you would say that about me.' "

Leaf realized he should have ignored Peck, but added: "Sometimes it's just too much. Your pride is just ... you're not playing right now and you're kind of kicked right in the heart."

"I think he just wanted to have a heated conversation," said Peck, who added that he's a lifelong Chargers fan as well as a singer for a heavy metal band.

"I'm 'Joe fan' speaking out for the people and we feel betrayed," Peck said.

Several witnesses said they heard Peck commenting about "wanting a lawsuit" as Leaf approached. Peck later said he was joking.

Leaf was quoted in Thursday's USA Today as saying he doesn't think he'll be with the Chargers after his contract becomes voidable.

"Hopefully it's wrong, but that was just my opinion," Leaf told San Diego reporters. "I wasn't saying that I want to leave here. I love San Diego and everything that it's brought me.

"I just don't feel like anybody wants me here, and if that's the case, they can get the guys they want in here. I'll work real hard on my shoulder and wherever I end up playing, whether it's here or it's somewhere else, hopefully I'll be what I was" early last season.

General manager Bobby Beathard said the Chargers want Leaf to be here the duration of the five-year, $31.25 million contract.

"I'm certain there's a high degree of frustration with Ryan" because of his shoulder injury, Beathard said.

"I think it's been said 100 times, everybody knows he's dug a pretty deep hole, but we have confidence he'll get out of it and play football. We want him to play football in San Diego. We don't want it to be someplace else."

Despite throwing 15 interceptions and just two touchdown passes, Leaf met the criteria to have his contract voided after the third year. He was in for at least 35 percent of the offensive plays and the Chargers (5-11) won one more game than they did the previous year.

However, he won't be totally free to leave. The Chargers will have some options to keep him, including paying him a $4 million bonus to activate the fourth and fifth years.