Football players are accustomed to hearing snide comments from the rival's fans. They are used to offensive remarks and occasional trash talk.
However, it may be a little different if it's from a leading Presidential candidate. The Lions player, Isa Abdul-Quddus said that Trump's latest proposal about the Muslim ban in the country is not a surprise anymore as reported on NBC Sports.
Hearing it from a Presidential candidate was another thing, though Lions safety Isa Abdul-Quddus said Donald Trump's suggestion that the United States stop Muslim immigration was not necessarily a surprise to him.
He does acknowledge though that it is a very scary time for him and the Muslim community because he knows that someone so powerful can have such an astonishing influence on the American people.
"That's the scary part. I'm just hoping that either he can change his mind set to be a bit more open-minded, or people just realize we can't have this ignorance in office," the athlete said to Detroit News.
The Muslim-practicing athlete knows that the number of Americans who find his religion as "evil" is only small, and does not necessarily reflect on Trump's opinion.
"It was one of them things that I kind of look at the person before I look at the comment," the athlete said. "Because Trump says a lot of things for shock value to like get people to hear him and listen to him and stuff and just to put his face in public.
Ameer Abdullah, the Lions running back, is also a practicing Muslim. The athlete was raised in Alabama and he reminisced about encountering bigotry as an African American and for being active in Islam.
Both players did not experience any negative criticisms following the San Bernardino shooting. Abdullah understands though that it is inevitable and certain people will agree with Trump's opinion.
