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Friday, March 29, 2024

Colts linebacker commits to hard work, mentoring

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The Indianapolis Colts are gearing up for their 30th regular season. They’ve got fan favorites such as Antoine Bethea, Donald Brown, Robert Mathis and none other than Andrew Luck. Recently added to the Colts roster is Lawrence Sidbury.

The Maryland native and graduate of the University of Richmond comes to Indianapolis after playing four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

Sidbury was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round (125th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. In that first season, he competed in all 16 games, and totaled four tackles, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.

Earlier this year, he was signed as an outside linebacker by the Colts as an unrestricted free agent. He has also played in a Colts preseason game.

The Recorder sat down with Sidbury to find out about how he is adjusting to his new team and his commitments off the field.

Recorder: How has the transition from the Falcons to the Colts and to Indianapolis been thus far?

Lawrence Sidbury: The transition’s been good. I definitely value coming to a city where people love the team. They love the Colts and they let you know. Fitting in with my new teammates has been great. Being out there on the field with the new coaches and people in the (front office), everyone has been warm and inviting.

The city? You can get everywhere in about 15 minutes. (Laughs) It’s laid back and relaxed. I’m a pretty even keeled guy so it’s cool with me.

What about on the field?

That’s been good too. The biggest thing was changing my position. I was a defensive end in Atlanta and we ran a 4-3 scheme and the defense we run here is a 3-4 scheme. And now I’m an outside linebacker.

Have you acquired any new mentors here?

I rely on all the guys who’ve been here. I ask questions whether it’s secondary or our linebacker core because they’ve been on the Colts defense longer than me. I’m new so I’m asking everyone questions. You never know what kind of help you can get even if it’s someone not in your position.

Who keeps you grounded to make sure you stay focused on your craft?

I keep people around me that can do things better than me. They may not necessarily be football players. Some of my friends are successful in other avenues of life like in school, being an entrepreneur or in the community. It keeps you hungry and ambitious.

I grew up with both my mom and dad. They did a lot to keep me grounded too. I probably say the biggest thing they taught me when I was younger was to be your own man, don’t let anyone outwork you and treat people with respect. That’s helped me along the way.

Off the field, you are a staunch supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Tell us more about that.

I’m in the second year of my partnership with BBBS. I started last season as the face of the affiliate in metro Atlanta. I’ve already teamed up with the people here in Central Indiana affiliate and the one in the Greater Washington D.C. area. Actually I recently had a fundraiser there and it was good. There’s going to be a lot of great things to come while I’m here in Indianapolis.

Why are you so committed to mentoring?

Not everybody is blessed to grow up in an ideal situation. Some people need encouragement to go down the right path. BBBS embodies the things that I’ve done in the past sometimes for no recognition. It can be a word, spending time with them or just showing up.

I say this all the time, this organization really puts their money where their mouth is. Some kids get a bad wrap, but people who are making the commas aren’t really doing anything about it. BBBS places people in the lives of kids and places their trust in them to show kids a better way.

For more information, visit Colts.com and BeBigForKids.org.

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