UNH's Sicko turns down NFL

As most of you may have heard, the NFL draft took place at the end of last week and over the weekend. While no UNH players were selected, several were contacted by teams just hours after the draft ended. Running back Chad Kackert signed a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kackert is a solid option on offense as a pass catcher out of the backfield and can be dangerous on special teams. I think he has a pretty good chance to make the team.

I was really surprised that Scott Sicko was not selected in the draft, especially when so many tight ends were taken. Sports Illustrated had Sicko listed as a sleeper pick to keep an eye on. Following in the draft Sicko was contacted by at least three teams, including the Dallas Cowboys who basically offered him a spot on their active roster. Sicko turned down all three teams, saying that he was only going to play in the NFL if he got drafted.

Um, what?

Sicko plans on pursuing a post-graduate degree in history, but playing in the NFL is a once in a lifetime opportunity that very few people ever get a chance at. Why not give the NFL a shot? He has the size, the speed and the hands to be a solid receiving tight end. In Dallas he could have played in a passing offense, at the nicest stadium in the league and he could have learned from one of the best tight ends in the league in Jason Witten. Maybe he would have shown up at mini-camp and realized the NFL wasn't for him, but at least he would have tried.

If Sicko truly loves football than he is being over dramatic and a coward. Anyone can get a post graduate degree, many athletes do so in the offseason or after retiring. This will be a decision that haunts Sicko down the road. If he didn't want to play in the NFL why would he have flown out to visit teams, go to the combine and have his own pro-day? I just don't see any legitimate reason to not give the NFL a shot, then again I don't know Sicko or his family, but it just doesn't make any sense to me. I wouldn't be surprised if he signed by the end of the week, but you never know.

Anyways, I wish Scott the best of luck in whatever direction he ends up going, but I would have loved to see him playing on Sundays, even if it was for the Cowboys.

Stay classy, not UMassy.