Colts outside linebacker Josh McNary got to training camp a few days later than his teammates, but he had a good excuse for being late: He was serving in the U.S. Army.
McNary graduated from West Point two years ago and has been serving as a lieutenant since then. But the Colts have had an eye on him since he finished his career on the football team at Army, where he was the all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss. Indianapolis signed him in April and moved him from the reserve/military list to the active roster after he was officially discharged from active duty this week.
Colts coach Chuck Pagano had McNary address himself to the team, then drew on McNary’s experience in the military to discuss the hard work, dedication and commitment to a cause that Pagano wants to see from his team.
“I told the team pretty much where I’ve been for the past two years, where I’ve been the past couple of months,” McNary said, via Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star. “After all that was said and done, [Pagano] made the parallel between the Army and that team, and the team that we have here. The fact that you kind of put this game into perspective, he called it a ‘child’s game.’ He said that basically there’s traits to be adopted and that team, in terms of everybody taking personal accountability and people being accountable for what they are supposed to be doing. It was pretty good. It was inspiring.”
McNary hasn’t played football since he walked off the field against SMU in the Armed Forces Bowl, but he says he’s ready to get to work for the Colts.
“In regards to playing [again], it didn’t really catch up to me until I got out here because before I was just focused on taking it a day at a time and doing what I can at that point,” McNary said. “I just knew the process as far as getting me out of the Army and everything wasn’t going to happen in a day. It definitely kept me preoccupied. I had enough to worry about down there.”
Now all McNary has to worry about is making the Colts’ roster.