Sippio tackles new challenge


By Nathan Boudreaux -- It’s certainly true that hard work pays off.

And there’s no better example than former Arena Football League receiver Bobby Sippio, who made his NFL debut on Sunday when the Kansas Chiefs fell to the Chicago Bears 20-10 at Soldier Field.

Sippio was signed by Kansas City after the AFL season and opened the year on the club’s practice squad. But, everything changed last week when Sippio (wearing #83 for the Chiefs) was signed to the active roster to fill-in for injured receiver Eddie Kennison.

“It’s been a blessing,” Sippio said of his opportunity to showcase his talent at the NFL level. “It’s a dream come true to be able to play in a regular season game and just being a part of it all. I couldn’t ask for any more excitement.”

Although last week’s contest was a road game for the Chiefs, Sippio felt right at home (literally) in the Windy City. He spent the last two seasons as a member of the AFL’s Chicago Rush and led the Rush to an ArenaBowl championship in 2006. He was one of the League’s most prominent receivers last season hauling in 125 passes for 1,739 yards and 53 touchdowns, despite missing nearly four games with an ankle injury.

Rush head coach Mike Hohensee and a host of Sippio’s former Rush teammates were in the stands on Sunday.

“I always hear from the guys,” Sippio said. “We have a wonderful team (with the Rush) and we always keep in contact and are supportive of our teammates and coaches.”

Although Sippio didn’t score any touchdowns or even catch a pass with the Chiefs base offense, he contributed on special teams.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound animated receiver has become a fan-favorite with the Chiefs after he was featured in the HBO hit series Hard Knocks, which gave viewers a behind-the-scene look at Chiefs training camp.

Although Sippio is a first-year player by NFL standards, he’s no stranger to professional football. He began is pro career in af2 with the Greensboro Prowlers in 2003 and has spent the last four seasons in the AFL with Dallas, Tampa Bay and Chicago. During his stellar AFL career, Sippio has caught 350 passes for 5,097 yards and 140 TDs. He went to training camp with the Miami Dolphins in 2004 but injured his knee during the preseason.

“The No. 1 thing as a wide receiver is you’ve got to catch the ball,” Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards said. “(Sippio) can catch the ball. He’s got very strong hands. He’s a physical guy. He can go inside. He’s fearless, has no fear for the linebackers. He’ll go in there and get hit and hold onto the football. That is what you like.”

It was ironic the Sippio made his debut in the same city where he played Arena ball, but there was also another unique twist to the game as well. On the other sideline for the Bears was former San Jose SaberCats star receiver Rashied Davis. Davis helped the SaberCats to a pair of ArenaBowl titles (2002 and ’04) and set SaberCats team season records with 44 TDs and 264 points in 2005.

Davis had his best NFL season with Chicago last year when he caught 22 passes for 303 yards and two scores, and helped the Bears to an NFC Championship and a Super Bowl berth. He caught three passes for 20 yards in the Bears win on Sunday.

“I wouldn’t be here (in the NFL) without Arena,” Davis told arenafootball.com prior to the Super Bowl last season. “(Playing) Arena Football helped me a lot because it taught me how to be a professional athlete – how to come to work and work hard every day.”

Like Davis, Sippio learned a lot about himself and his ability to succeed on the football field while playing in the AFL.

“(The AFL taught me to) play fast and to make plays,” he said.

Sippio has made a ton of plays over the last two seasons while playing for the Rush and hopes to translate some of that success to the 100-yard field.

“I’m just looking to have a lot of fun playing the game,” he said

And as for his creative touchdown celebrations we enjoyed every time he found the end zone for the Rush.

“Just the fun part will carry over to the NFL, not really all of the celebrations,” Sippio said jokingly. “In the AFL they give us more leeway to do celebrations, but I’m not leaning that way (in the NFL).”

With Kennison sidelined, the Chiefs hope to work Sippio more into the offense moving forward. Kansas City hosts Minnesota this Sunday on FOX (1 pm ET).

Somebody call mrtrans, I know he will be excited............ b667ur