The only Muslim player at the Super Bowl avoided questions about Trump
HOUSTON — It seems everyone is talking about President Donald Trump’s executive order to temporarily ban travel to and from seven countries with high Muslim populations.
But Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu said at Monday night’s media availability that he will not be touching questions about that subject — not yet, anyway.
“It’s a very tough situation,” said Sanu, who grew up in New Jersey and played college ball at Rutgers. “I just pray that the country and the world can be united. It’s really hard for me to talk about this right now. I just want to focus on the game and talk about football.”
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Sanu, the son of two Muslim parents and a practicing Muslim himself, was asked several questions on the controversial ban, which has set off protests across the country. But Sanu didn’t want to go deep on the subject, deferring most questions to Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. He did say he had thoughts on the matter but didn’t want to discuss is six days before the biggest game of his NFL career.
“At another time maybe but not now,” he said.
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Sanu’s mother, Aminata Koroma, is expected to arrive in town on Wednesday, traveling from Sierra Leone. She came from there to the U.S. in 1975 and they moved back for three years in the 1990s when Sanu was young. Koroma moved back there a few years ago and now splits her time between New Jersey and Africa.
Sanu said he is not worried about her arriving on time — or safely — given the uproar and travel adjustments this week. Sierra Leone is not on the list of seven countries with the temporary ban, but there have been delays in immigration in several international airports since Trump issued the executive order.
“I am always concerned when I have a member of my family traveling. You never know. But it is what it is. You just hope and pray she makes it safely,” he said.
Sanu signed a five-year, $32.5 million contract with the Falcons last March and has become a crucial element of their offense this season.
“I am not really here to talk about my religious beliefs,” Sanu said. “I am here to play football.”
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!
