Abdullah brothers will take break for religious reasons

[rug]

Jun 22, 2012
By Kyle Ratke, USA TODAY
Updated 11h 2m ago

We have seen NFL players such as Marion Barber retire unexpectedly this offseason.

His retirement was likely because of injuries or a lack of opportunities.

While brothers Husain and Hamza Abdullah have not retired, the two defensive backs will be taking the 2012 season off despite having job opportunities around the NFL.

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Profootballtalk.com, the brothers will be taking the season off to pilgrimage to Mecca as part of their Islamic faith.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2012/06/abdullah-brothers-to-miss-2012-nfl-season/1

[cbayer]

1. These have got to be very tough decisions to make.

But I tend to lead towards this being a sign of character trumping greed/ego.

[daaron]

2. Gah! Tired of public figures trumpeting their religious garbage for P.R.

Goes sextuple for mazillionaire jocks. Me at a hypothetical football game: Tebow?!? Hey! Tebow! Matthew 6:5, Timmy! Jesus called you a "Hypocrite!"

Now Muslim jocks want some of the P.R. Fuck 'em. Maybe they should stay in Mecca.

[cbayer]

3. I can't agree with you here, daaron. In fact, I see it exactly the opposite.

These guys are at the top of their game and if they were interested in PR and self-aggrandizement, they would stay in the NFL and not take this year off.



Tebow on the other hand is trumpeting his religion on the field.

[daaron]

4. Oh, well, I don't follow sports, anyway, so my opinion is biased. :D nt

[ZombieHorde]

5. I think that is an interesting difference.

I hope those football players find what they are looking for at Mecca.

[cbayer]

6. There was another article the other day about a high school

basketball player who is reportedly one of the very top picks of colleges around the country.

He is mormon and still deciding whether he will take his mission year prior to college.

Anyway, I think I have that story right.

These are tough decisions for some pretty young people.

[HarveyDarkey]

7. The whole season?

Are they walking & swimming to Mecca?
Take a damn plane, rent a car & drive there.
Two days, three max & you're done.
There's more to this story.

[rug]

8. It's one of the five pillars, not an errand.