COLONIE – The Question always nibbled at the back of Scott Sicko’s mind, but the New Hampshire tight end by way of Stillwater and La Salle always had a ready answer.

Yes, he has a deep passion for football. Yes, he wants compete and work and excel.

But The Question, lurking well below the surface, still lingered: Is this what he wanted to do with his life?

“There was a little glimpse of it in my mind: Is this the right thing for me?” Sicko said. “During the whole process I was answering that easily with a yes.”

Scott Sicko proved to be a great high school and college player, possessing the rare size and speed and pass-catching skills necessary to be considered an NFL prospect.

But as the final day of the NFL Draft progressed Saturday, and Sicko continued not to see his name pop up on ESPN, that easy answer to The Question grew hazier, then clearer.

And when the NFL finally called – and called and called and called – late in the afternoon, Scott Sicko’s response shocked his agents, the teams but in the end not himself.

Thanks, but no thanks.