Football provides platform for Patriots’ players

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—When all is said and done, there are more important things than this year’s Super Bowl XXXIX, according to New England Patriots linebacker defensive back Don Davis.

Click image for related coverage

Not that Davis, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, isn’t going to give it his all. It’s just that “nobody’s going to remember a year from now or two years from now, who won and lost,” he said.

“What’s really important is what your relationship is with the Lord,” Davis told Florida Baptist Witness at Media Day Feb. 1 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville.

“Guys’ characters off the field carries over on the field. Anybody who doesn’t think so is foolish,” Davis said. “What you are in the dark, in your room, will be shown on the football field and that’s why we have such a strong group.”

Davis leads a players’ Bible study every Thursday night during the season and has begun to disciple some of his younger spiritual teammates. His experience has even led him to consider going to seminary for further training when he retires. In Florida, he and his wife, Yannette, attend the First Alliance Church in Port Charlotte.

“What motivates me is just the call to go out and make disciples of other men,” said Davis. “I believe that God has called me to teach the Word and in order to do that I try to be as prepared as I can.”

It is through football that Davis said he has seen his “territory enlarged,” much like Jabez in the Bible.

“God has enlarged my territory. He has increased my platform every single year that this only keeps getting bigger,” Davis said. “I love Him with all of my heart, and I just can’t event imagine how it gets any better than this.”

Davis said that despite all the glamour, however, he keeps a level head and ties to reach out with his message.

“It’s a big challenge. Money gets bigger. Problems get bigger,” said Davis. Marriage and “negative things” are a challenge. But people are watching.

“In a home, anybody who has people looking at you—your father, your mother, your friend—you’re a role model,” David said. “I heard it said a long time ago, you might be the only Bible that people see.

“We’ve all been blessed with something,” he said. “So it’s about finding what you’ve been blessed with and doing it well.”

The Patriots hard-hitting cornerback Rodney Harrison, an 11-year veteran, is one who attends Day’s team Bible study in spite of a packed schedule of team meetings, practice, endorsement deals and sessions with agents, reporters and sponsors.
Harrison, who is looking to collect his second Super Bowl title in as many years with the Patriots, said he won’t start the day without his daily time of worship, prayer, meditation and Bible study.

“Without my faith in the Lord, there is no way I would be here,” he said during the Media Day—a prelude to Super Bowl XXXIX against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I have to start my morning out right with devotion, prayer and reading God’s Word. I can’t start my day without it. I pray about becoming a better dad, a better husband, a better person in Christ.”

Harrison, who played for the San Diego Chargers for several seasons before joining the Patriots, was one of many players happy to express their faith in Jesus Christ to any of the 4,000 media people at the stadium where football’s on-field championship would be decided Sunday evening.

Wide receiver Bethel Johnson, who is now in his second year with the defending world champions after playing for Texas A&M, said the Patriots have “a strong group of Christians ... and we know that what happens on the field Sunday is not the most important thing in our lives.”

Johnson credits God with backing him even in tough times.

“I always like to put my faith in God,” Johnson said. “I know He’s never failed me no matter hard the outcome may look.”

Johnson was involved in a strong college ministry while playing for the Aggies but said he was pleasantly surprised when he was drafted by the Patriots to find a number of mature spiritual believers on the team.

“I thought it would be less in the NFL, but ministry and the fellowship is still the same. No matter what kind of money some of these guys are making, they still want to serve Him,” Johnson said.

Nearly 100 million people tuned in Sunday to see the Patriots claim their third Super Bowl title in four years, stamping themselves as the first football dynasty of the 21st century. But for the Christian New England players, the final score in Sunday’s game is not as important as the final score in their personal lives.

Strong safety Je’Rod Cherry, a nine-year veteran from the University of California, acting on Day’s advice, has spent every Monday afternoon at a Boston-area juvenile detention center this year, sharing his faith in Christ and mentoring the junior and senior high kids.

“I wanted to be mentoring them and showing them God’s love and really witnessing His goodness. I didn’t want to just show up on Thanksgiving passing out turkeys. Through weekly Bible studies, I have a chance to see kids’ lives really changed and see them come to know the Lord as their Savior.”

With the Patriots’ recent run of success on the football field, Cherry is able to use his newly–elevated platform for God. “When I come in there wearing a Super Bowl ring, to me it’s just a thing, just a piece of jewelry, but it catches their attention and gives me an opportunity to speak. It can be tough for a pastor in jail to get the respect, but the kids are willing to listen to what I have to say.”

With the prayers and work of the team’s Christian leaders, Cherry said this year has been as exciting off the field as on the field. “We’re seeing some team evangelism; we have people coming to Christ and strengthening their walk in Him,” he said.

“It’s all about God, not all about football,” Cherry added. “He still opens and closes the doors for all of us. No matter what happens on Sunday, that’s not nearly as important as seeing some of our players walking for Him.”

But Cherry also admitted walking for God has its challenges.

“It’s very hard because you constantly are hearing the story of how the world is and how the glamour of having different women throwing themselves at you, the material items that you can possess ... you’re constantly bombarded with those images,” Cherry said. “But at the same time, going through the experiences I’ve gone through, I realize that it’s futile, it leads to nothing. Like the [scripture] says, it’s all vain.”

Linebacker Rosevelt Colvin said he is always congnizant of the example he sets for his family, just as his parents set an example for him. Daily devotions, regular prayer and being involved in a church home are an important part of who he is both on and off the field.

“My spiritual life if not just about myself, but my family,” Colvin said. “I’ve got to present myself a sacrifice for him and everything that I do represents Him.”

Colvin said he was saved at Salem Baptist Church in Chicago, and continues to be involved with his church’s pastor, though the most influential person in his life has to be Jesus Christ.

“I don’t think there’s one specific ... person that I look up to because the person that you’re suppose to be looking up to is Jesus Himself,” Colvin said. “I just try to humble myself every day ... not taking anything for granted.”

Starting running back Corey Dillon credited God for his talent and for the opportunities he’s had.

“He’s always has His hand on me,” Dillon said. “It’s a blessing that I’m even here playing for the Pats.”

[With reporting by Art Stricklin for Baptist Press and Doug Waters for Florida Baptist Witness.]