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MormonTimes.com: 27 Mormons on NFL rosters

What? Are we supposed to be happy or make a celebration there are 27 players who prefer to sacrifice going to church to play some meaningless game to eternal salvation?

Honestly, MormonTimes.com needs to start doing some professional journalism into matters that are a whole lot more important, like the impact of the church's aid to refugees and in 3rd world countries, or perhaps expand a debate in the views of the church on certain things. Perhaps take a look to a lot of othe much more worthwhile things than to announce like with pride that there are 27 people who prefer to sacrifice church, sunday school, callings, and many other things to play a sport that plays no role in Heavenly father's plan.

I am just saying.

Church does great things with the education with the perpetual education fund. Perhaps an analysis or a biography of someone's life might suit more as worthwhile news.

Just wondering: Is working on a Sunday and doing so as a participant in violent, recreational warfare in keeping with the keeping-the-Sabbath-holy commandment? It's one of just ten. My parents don't make any purchases. Some don't even watch TV. And most LDS I know refrain from working. I do. Where's the exception to this commandment? Can I get an answer please?

Go Utah! We're proud of our athletes...

so what ??

Please don't get angry about my observation but I have noticed a lot of stories like this lately in the DN. There is always "how many Mormons are on Survivor, Big Brother, American Idol or NFL Athletes". Personally I think you are really trying way too hard to prove you are "accepted". This kind of contradicts what I have always thought about the LDS people. You have a unique Faith. You formulate that Faith well with your own Scriptures. I would think that would be enough to give you a sense of pride as well as humility. Just an "outsider's" opinion.

Add Davone Bess, Miami WR, who reportedly converted while at the University of Hawaii.

I have to admit I do not know why the paper is making a big deal out of how many Mormons are in the NFL. I have to admit you have lost me.

Why? If you are a "News" paper you will list the number of Christians and Moslems and Hindus and Bhuddists... too. Because, that is the reporting of the news, that's why.

Truly is a sad day when you have to be labeled by your religion, even as you try and play a game of football :(. Does this now mean that if there be a game on Sunday, there shall be a few less players?

I have to agree with the posts that question the relevancy of this article. If the paper feels it must have a Mormon Times section, surely there is far more important "news" about the church than this. It seems that Mr. Cannon's desire to make the paper "more Mormon" has fallen on Hard Times.

What do the articles on this link try to portray LDS as part of the real, and then try to seperate themselves from being a part of the world?

I love the comment about chosing playing football or eternal salvation comment once again lost in the bubble utah mormon better than thou pride rears its ugly head. Well guess what all of your neighbors that drink diet coke you should judge them also. Good work keep your nose on your own face.

there are 34 Catholics on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster ... big deal either way ... who keeps count of such silly stats anyway

Football is a job. It is just as meaningless, useless, pathetic, rediculous, and wasteful as your job. Maybe you are jealuous because others don't also enjoy watching you work, like people enjoy watching football players work. These men have aspired to work in a career that they excell in, just as anyone generally does. Employers have a schedule that you are expected to meet, and for 4-5 months of the year, Football requires Sunday. With just .00000000001% of the population being football players, it is not a job they chose so they can miss Sacrament meeting, but a very skilled position that is unique - hence the interest in the article that 27 people are members of the church in such a limited field.
Football is a very similar schedule to my Home Teacher and High Council rep that is a city police officer, a Relief Society member at United Airlines, and several nurses and doctors in my Denver area ward. All of them prefer to be at church, but sometimes carry a prayer in their hearts and still live virtuous lives 7 days a week, not just one.

I find it interesting and I'm glad you run articles like this. I don't think it has anything to do with "acceptance" or being like everyone else as one writer has suggested. Now, don't take this wrong, but MormonTimes.com is for those inside the church, too. Of course outsiders are welcome to check it out, but this is primarily for the information of members of the church.

Sure there are more important issues than who is playing in the NFL but it's nice to get a break from all the weighty matters from time to time.

Keep up the good work!

the ego fights the id, and the ego wins. hooray for mormons. hooray for the fact that they have varied careers.

church pr at work here? because here's a pattern: first, number of mormons on reality shows. then mormons who are acclaimed authors. then a delineation of mormon olympians. now mormons in the national football league.

next? mormons who are landscape architects, aerospace engineers or dieticians?

oh well, if the masses consume. just check your super-ego at the door.

I think its great to see these young men doing something they love. You people need to lighten up. The best way to spread the gospel is to let people know about the church and this is a great way for people to find out.

hey t_h_r_o,you can wonder on this,these commandments are for us to keep we cant worry about what others should keep...because salvation is individual.and keep worrying about others and you wont make it there.so stop wondering.and thats for too you atlman.

The Deseret News, a regional paper, is reporting this as an item of interest to the major religion in the area it serves. There's no reason why they should have to report on the number of people in every religion in football.

As for Mormons working on Sunday in pro sports, they're no different than the vast majority of Mormons I see--with the huge Mormon population in Utah Valley, for instance, you'd think the place would roll up the sidewalks on Sundays, what with 2/3 of the population keeping the Sabbath day holy by not engaging in commerce...but not so. There are a lot of people who interpret that commandment loosely (not to mention ignoring it completely).

Plenty of Mormons work, play, and shop on Sunday. Sometimes it's a matter of necessity--if your job requires working on Sundays, and you need the money to live, you're kind of stuck. (Not that the NFL players are hard up for cash...but still, their job requires Sunday work.) Bottom line, it's a matter of free will, and not necessarily a question of spiritual purity.

Gimme a break folks. To a lot of LDS folks, it's neat to see people of the faith who have succeeded in their careers. Maybe you can be happy for them? Or, maybe you should go down and join the Hilldale, Colorado City and YFZ Ranch clubs.

As I've said before, why do you all worry about anti-mormons when you all criticize and judge each other more than anyone else could.