Former University of Regina Rams slotback Jordan Sisco is hoping to take another step towards cracking the roster of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
That next step is to earn an invite to the team's 2010 training camp, which will begin on Aug. 1 in Indianapolis.
Should Sisco garner an invite to main camp and go on to earn a roster spot with the Colts, he would become the second University of Regina product to make the NFL, joining Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan.
Sisco was signed as a free agent by Indianapolis following the 2010 NFL Draft on the advice of Regina-based scout Cal Murphy. Since then, he has attended a rookie mini-camp and participated in two weeks of organized team activities with the Colts.
"The rookie camp was a big eye-opener for me," Sisco said. "I had a lot of stuff to learn in a short amount of time, and the way they ran their practice was tiring. The Colts like to get things done efficiently and don't want to waste time repeating plays, so they expect you to know the plays and know exactly what you need to do out there."
The rookie mini-camp was where Sisco first met 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback Peyton Manning.
"He came up and introduced himself individually to the players that were there," Sisco said. "You can tell he's been around for a long time and he's great to learn from. He won't hesitate to take a rookie aside and show him exactly how to run a specific route, and he's done that with me a couple times."
Sisco said it was apparent that Manning's quarterbacking ability goes hand-in-hand with the 13th-year pro's work ethic.
"He's probably the hardest working player on the team, and that's what it takes to become one of the league's dominant players," Sisco said. "It's unreal how hard the guy works. This doesn't just come naturally - he puts a tonne of work into it and demands perfection out of himself and the guys around him."
The organized team activities that have been running since mid-May include full practices with returning veterans and rookie seminars, which teach the first-year players about finance, life skills and nutrition. The only break for Sisco since they started was a brief respite when the players were sent home for the Memorial Day holiday.
Up next for Sisco and the Colts is a mandatory three day mini-camp in early June, which will include both the rookies and veterans under contract. Sisco expects to find out if he'll be invited to the team's main camp sometime after the mini-camp wraps up.
"They haven't really said anything yet," Sisco said. "After mini-camp, I
guess I'll have a conversation with the head coach (Jim Caldwell) and
my position coach (Ron Turner) and get a feel for what's going to
happen."