At the end of the season, he was named All-American, All-SEC, LSU offensive MVP and played in the Senior Bowl.
After the team's offense suffered because of the health of Jay Novacek and the lack of production at tight end,[3] the Dallas Cowboys were determined to solve the situation in the 1997 NFL draft, even going as far as soliciting quarterback's Troy Aikman input in private workouts of the two top ranked players at the position (Tony Gonzalez and LaFleur), that were reported by the Sports Illustrated magazine.
[4] It was eventually published in the media that both the Cowboys and Aikman, had him rated ahead of Gonzalez, because they considered him to possess a rare combination of skills.
In 1999, during the offseason he suffered a broken right fibula in minicamp and underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy to repair a herniated disc.
He was passed on the depth chart by veteran Jackie Harris, while registering only 12 receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown in 15 games (10 starts).