Speaking for myself, not Mike, but I don't think he is suggesting for a minute that Sam doesn't deserve full credit for the way he lives. It's more that in my mind, religions generally lay out frameworks, ways to think and live that would be conducive to living well and successfully, in this case put towards a career in football. It's still 100% the players job to live that way, and that's where the credit should lie.
We see many failed professionals that may have had more successful careers had they committed to a faith to help guide them, that isn't to say that it helps everyone, as you point out, there are many religious people who live poorly in every type of way, but you never look at all or nothings to cast judgement. Look at the drink, drug, gambling problems that pop up in Football all the time, it's young men with lots of money and poor guidance. I'm saying this as someone who has never followed a faith and is very ambivalent towards them, but writing religions off, or saying they do no good, is to throw the baby out with the bathwater, there is a reason they have been around so long, their teachings have stood the test of time.
I should probably say no more, opinions on religion don't tend to go down good paths on the internet
