By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Sippio, 31, and an accomplice, Santana Coats, 30, were booked into the Osceola County jail Friday after they allegedly took a victim to a local park late Thursday, beat him, and threatened to kill him, according to authorities.

Predators Coach Bret Munsey said he did not know of Sippio’s arrest after the team lost to Jacksonville Friday and would not comment.  The team cut Sippio early Saturday morning, claiming that he has not been practicing with the team for the past three weeks because of conduct issues.

Sippio was the quarterback for the Osceola Kowboys when they won the 1998 Class 5A state championship. He played football at Western Kentucky University, where he was an All-American defensive back, and he has been a professional player for several Arena League teams over the past decade. He won an AFL championship in 2006 with Chicago.

Sippio played for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs as a receiver and special teams player in 2007. He joined the Predators two seasons ago and became one of the team’s leading receivers.

Sippio rejoined the Predators a month into the current season after recuperating from an injury.