University of Tennessee Athletics
BILLS SIGN C.J. LEAK TO PRACTICE SQUAD
September 04, 2006 | Football
Sept. 4, 2006
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - C.J. Leak was supposed to be helping his younger brother Chris prepare to play Central Florida this weekend when suddenly plans changed.
The Buffalo Bills came calling, signing C.J. Leak to their practice squad Monday after he spent the past year working as a Florida administrative assistant.
And for those keeping track, Leak was signed as a tight end, one of four positions he played during a star-crossed college career that spanned six years from 1999 to 2004 at Wake Forest and Tennessee and included stints at quarterback, safety and linebacker.
"I stayed in shape the whole time because I knew the opportunity might possibly come again and coaching helped me just keep my mind mentally focused on the game," Leak said. "This opportunity came up. I worked out for them twice. Hopefully, I showed them some things."
With Leak's addition, the Bills have one more spot to fill on their eight-player practice squad, which includes one other tight end, Brad Cieslak. While considered a major project, Leak immediately becomes the squad's most intriguing player.
"We decided that he was worth the risk because we liked him as an athlete in the workouts," Bills coach Dick Jauron said.
Leak's athleticism has never been questioned. But there's been uncertainty about what position bests suits him.
A highly touted quarterback out of Charlotte, N.C., Leak accepted a scholarship to play at Wake Forest in 1999. He sustained a severe knee injury as a sophomore and then abruptly transferred to Tennessee, even though the Volunteers had an established quarterback in Casey Clausen.
After sitting out the mandatory one year under NCAA transfer rules, Leak spent two seasons getting limited work behind Clausen.
With Clausen gone in 2004, Leak failed to win the starting job as a senior, losing out to two freshmen. Leak then saw limited time at safety, tight end and linebacker.
After going undrafted, Leak landed the job with the Gators, in part to help tutor his brother, a senior starter.
"I'm still talking with him about the game plan, trying to help him the best I can," Leak said. "But my commitment right now is to the Buffalo Bills. I'm just glad to be here. ... Now it's time to go out and work and earn something."
Leak shrugged when asked if tight end might be his best position.
"I think I could've been a pretty good quarterback, too. I thought I could've been a pretty good safety," he said. "Right now, I'm going to be the best tight end I can be. I love the position. Obviously, I've got a lot to learn, but it's a lot of fun."
Leak said his biggest challenge besides learning the Bills offensive scheme is becoming accustomed to the footwork and blocking techniques required of a tight end.
Considering he's played quarterback, Leak was asked whether the Bills might consider introducing a tight end reverse option play.
"If that's something they want to put in the mix, I'll be ready for it," Leak said, laughing. "Whatever they want me to do, I'll be ready to go."
