For as rocky as Troy Smith's NFL preseason debut was, it was a Hall of Fame performance compared to Chris Leak's bump-on-a-log impersonation during the Bears-Texans game. Chris Leak, who's Florida Gators demolished Troy Smith's Ohio State Buckeyes in last January's NCAA Championship game, is currently fourth on the depth chart in Chicago, behind Canton-bound Rex Grossman, Brian Griese and Kyle Orton.

For the glaring differences between college and professional football, consider a recent Bears practice:

[Chris Leak] dropped back on a recent training-camp morning, chose a target and released quickly, as he had a thousand times while facing the least forgiving collegiate defenses. They had been merciful compared to the defense Chris Leak now encountered: Chicago Bears' backups.

The former Florida Gator's pass never made it to tight end John Gilmore. Chris Harris, a reserve safety soon to be traded, stepped in to snatch the ball and streak the other way. Members of the Bears' starting secondary, watching from the sidelines, serenaded Chris Leak with Florida State's tomahawk-chop chant.

Insult to injury, that. Chris Leak didn't get a snap during the Bears' first preseason game, and unless he goes on a Tom Brady-in-2001 passing spree the next three weeks, there's virtually no shot he'll make the roster. He'll likely end up on the practice squad, but its just further proof that college success guarantees nothing at the next level:

The two national championship quarterbacks before Chris Leak, Matt Leinart and Vince Young, were first-round selections who now lead NFL franchises. Three of the four before them are out of the league. One recent Heisman winner, Jason White, works in insurance. Another, Eric Crouch, is in the Canadian Football League. Two recent Heisman runners-up, Joe Hamilton and Brad Banks, are Arena Football League and CFL veterans.

On the upside, both Grossman and Orton have bucked the odds and somehow earn a paycheck as NFL quarterbacks. If nothing else, that should give Chris Leak hope.

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