Arena football

Sippio adds his heft to a much bigger Storm

By FRANK PASTOR
Published January 8, 2006

BRANDON - Bobby Sippio did not make the playoffs in either of his first two Arena Football League seasons. So, when the free-agent wide receiver/linebacker had his choice of places to sign, he chose the one that has never missed the postseason.

Sippio, who agreed to a two-year contract in October, practiced with the Storm for the first time Saturday, when it opened camp at the Brandon Sports & Aquatic Center.

"It's just an opportunity for me to play for coach (Tim) Marcum and be able to play for a championship-caliber team," said Sippio, a Kissimmee native who caught 61 passes for 863 yards and 24 touchdowns with Dallas last season. "I just felt like I could put my helping hand in and make it a little better."

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Sippio was one of 35 players present, including 16 newcomers. He and linemen Buck Gurley and Thaddeus Bullard are among those expected to have an immediate impact. Other new faces include kicker Bill Gramatica and receiver/linebacker Huey Whittaker, formerly of USF, and ex-Dolphins defensive back Alphonso Roundtree, who was signed on Saturday.

"This is by far the biggest group we've ever had," Marcum said. "We've got six or seven 300-plus-pounders and, including the receivers, Bobby and the four guys that are at the jill linebacker/receiver, it's just a bigger team overall."

So, big, in fact, lineman Nyle Wiren will be moved to fullback/linebacker after spot duty in the backfield the past few seasons.

"We're going with a lot bigger guys up front," said the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Wiren. "I was always the smallest anyway. Now I'm really, really the smallest."

Lineman Rod Williams was excused because of the death of his father-in-law. Lineman Clint Mitchell did not report because he is expected to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. His absence could open a roster spot for quarterback C.J. Leak, who agreed to a two-day waiver. Lineman Omar Smith was absent.

[Last modified January 8, 2006, 00:44:19]