Chris Leak to play with AAFL
Former Florida quarterback Chris Leak announced Wednesday he will sign to play pro ball with the new All American Football Leauge.
He will play wth Team Florida, which will be coached by another former UF quarterback - Shane Matthews.
As a member of Team Florida, Leak will return to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium where he was a four-year starter. UF will host three of the team’s five home games during the inaugural 2008 season.
In 2006, Leak led Florida to a 13-1 record and a national championship, completing 25 of 36 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown in the BCS Championship.
Leak finished his career as Florida’s all-time leader in passing attempts (1,458), completions (895) and yardage (11,213). He is second all-time in school history in completion percentage (61.4%) and touchdown passes with 88. Leak was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll each semester and was a finalist for the Draddy Trophy symbolic of athletic and academic excellence.
Leak will join these former Gators who have already committed to playing with the league: Travis McGriff, Vernell Brown, Judd Davis, Chris Doering, Tony George, Willie Jackson, Steve Rissler, Fred Weary and Eli Williams.
Florida season tickets are scheduled to go on sale this month. For more information, go to www.AAFL.com.
If you bleed orange and blue, this blog is for you. The Gator Report is written by Florida beatwriter Antonya English and the staff of the St. Petersburg Times. We invite your comments and participation.
This league is going to take off. I cant wait to see the state of Florida come together, and just dominate the entire league with straight speed. Get, Ready for team FLORIDA represent!
Posted by: Dsmith | November 08, 2007 at 06:50 PM
I hope it takes off. Another football league is never a bad thing
Posted by: Tampabaysportsfanatic | November 09, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Guess that NFL thing didn't work out so well for Leak?
Posted by: tony | November 13, 2007 at 06:15 PM
No tony it did not and it was not a surprise to true Gator fans. He was a great leader and could help move an offense, but he is too small and does not have the arm strength needed to play in the NFL.
Posted by: Tampabaysportsfanatic | November 14, 2007 at 04:50 PM
I didn't hear anyone making the point about Doug Flutie being too short when he entered the NFL draft. I think that it is a shame everyone has this notion that if you are not at least 6'5" as a QB that you are not worth taking a chance on in the draft. I know the likes of Vick and Brees will be mentioned as QB;s who were not 6'5" and were drafted, but the excuse use to be that some of the smaller QB's that were in drafted in the league were runners and could not do the job that a pure dropback passer. For so long the cry was that in order to be an affective QB in the NFL you need to be a dropback passer, well the last time I checked and watched the Gators play I think I show a certain young man who fit that description and his name is Chris Leak. With Leak you have a QB who is good in the pocket and has a decent arm and has won the BSC National Championship for his team(Gators). It appears that Chris Leak can never live up to what most people in Gator Nation wants him to be. I think that it is the NFL's loss because they could have had a great role model for kids to look up to, but instead we want to settle for the big strong, ideal QB which in history has shown that most who were highly touted have been a bust in the league (ie:Ryan Leaf) by the way where is he now.
Posted by: Rita | December 07, 2007 at 05:19 PM
Umm, yes they did say that about Flutie, which is why he went to Canada
Posted by: Tampabaysportsfanatic | December 07, 2007 at 05:29 PM