--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to play running back, but they…" description: "\"I wanted to play running back, but they would never put me at running back. I started loving receiver and as I kept growing older, we kept throwing the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/amari-cooper-4988_better_i-wanted-to-play-running-back-but-they-w_2324265.jpg" --- # I wanted to play running back, but they would never put me… ![“I wanted to play running back, but they would never put me at running back. I started loving receiver and as I kept growing older, we kept throwing the ball more and I kept liking it more and more. It's something I've played all my life. It's something I've gotten better at each year.” quote by Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/amari-cooper-4988_better_i-wanted-to-play-running-back-but-they-w_2324265.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/amari-cooper-4988_better_i-wanted-to-play-running-back-but-they-w_2324265.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/amari-cooper-4988_better_i-wanted-to-play-running-back-but-they-w_2324265.jpg) > “I wanted to play running back, but they would never put me at running back. I started loving receiver and as I kept growing older, we kept throwing the ball more and I kept liking it more and more. It's something I've played all my life. It's something I've gotten better at each year.” [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He adapted positions, improving over time through perseverance. **In simple terms:** Adapted roles and improved with age. Key Takeaway Embrace change and keep improving. Themes adaptation perseverance growth Mood motivational reflective Type advice personal When to use this quote - sports training - career transitions - personal development Key Concepts career development skill evolution Questions to Reflect On - How did changing positions benefit your career? - What challenges arise when switching roles? A Different Perspective Changing roles may limit early specialization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Growing old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-old/) [Growing older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-older/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [I just kept throwing out two or three major ideas, and then that was pretty much right when Tom Phillips came to me asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-english/i-just-kept-throwing-out-two-or-three-major-ideas-and-then-that-was/) [Aiden English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-english/) > [To John Cena after the fans kept throwing his shirt back in the ring : They didn't throw my shirt back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/to-john-cena-after-the-fans-kept-throwing-his-shirt-back-in-the-ring/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [Obviously as a receiver, you want to go out there and make plays for your team and win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/obviously-as-a-receiver-you-want-to-go-out-there-and-make-plays-for-2/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I think I definitely have the mentality and skill set to be a top-five receiver, that's no doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-think-i-definitely-have-the-mentality-and-skill-set-to-be-a-top/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I want to be the best receiver to ever play the game. I feel like I can do it. I know I have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-want-to-be-the-best-receiver-to-ever-play-the-game-i-feel-like-i/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [Obviously, as a receiver, you want to go out there and make plays for your team to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/obviously-as-a-receiver-you-want-to-go-out-there-and-make-plays-for/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I think I proved that I was a polished receiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-think-i-proved-that-i-was-a-polished-receiver/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [The day I think about throwing the ball away at the beginning of a play, I should stop playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-griffin-iii/the-day-i-think-about-throwing-the-ball-away-at-the-beginning-of-a/) [Robert Griffin III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-griffin-iii/) > [Matt Ryan does a great job of throwing the ball. No quarterback within the 20 to 25 yard range is throwing the ball any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-brown/matt-ryan-does-a-great-job-of-throwing-the-ball-no-quarterback-within/) [Antonio Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-brown/) > [I'll get in that habit of throwing the ball over the plate too much. You want to keep it going, get those guys back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cain/i-ll-get-in-that-habit-of-throwing-the-ball-over-the-plate-too-much/) [Matt Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cain/) > [I want the ball in my hands, throwing the ball, making decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-foles/i-want-the-ball-in-my-hands-throwing-the-ball-making-decisions/) [Nick Foles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-foles/) > [Don't ever underestimate Mike Gundy throwing the ball with his quarterbacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-corso/don-t-ever-underestimate-mike-gundy-throwing-the-ball-with-his/) [Lee Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-corso/) > [I know I've got to just keep throwing the ball. That's what I do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/i-know-i-ve-got-to-just-keep-throwing-the-ball-that-s-what-i-do-best/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [I don't want anybody to panic. I'm not pitching. I'm just throwing out the first ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-niekro/i-don-t-want-anybody-to-panic-i-m-not-pitching-i-m-just-throwing-out/) [Phil Niekro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-niekro/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) ## More by Amari Cooper > [I've been playing football all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-ve-been-playing-football-all-my-life/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I haven't played with too many guys like Dak Prescott, so I think he definitely deserves everything that's coming to him. He definitely deserves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-haven-t-played-with-too-many-guys-like-dak-prescott-so-i-think-he/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [Obviously, when you drop a ball early in the game, it could be worse. You can go on to drop many more balls or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/obviously-when-you-drop-a-ball-early-in-the-game-it-could-be-worse/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [Obviously, you want to score every game, but you just have to be patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/obviously-you-want-to-score-every-game-but-you-just-have-to-be-patient/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [We would always rush to do our homework because after work, we knew that it was football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/we-would-always-rush-to-do-our-homework-because-after-work-we-knew/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I wasn't really happy in Oakland or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-wasn-t-really-happy-in-oakland-or-anything-like-that/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [If you see one negative person a lot of people start to get negative, and that's not good for any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/if-you-see-one-negative-person-a-lot-of-people-start-to-get-negative/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I'm ready to just win, baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-m-ready-to-just-win-baby/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [The more opportunities you have in any setting, situation, you're going to be better off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/the-more-opportunities-you-have-in-any-setting-situation-you-re-going/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I was always taught to be hungry and humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-was-always-taught-to-be-hungry-and-humble/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I mean, I don't really remember playing a full season ever being 100 percent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-mean-i-don-t-really-remember-playing-a-full-season-ever-being-100/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I don't want to prove the Raiders wrong. I just want to prove the Cowboys right. They traded for me, and I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-don-t-want-to-prove-the-raiders-wrong-i-just-want-to-prove-the/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [Yeah, I just handle my business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/yeah-i-just-handle-my-business/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [Growing up, every team that I've played on, I was a pretty important piece to the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/growing-up-every-team-that-i-ve-played-on-i-was-a-pretty-important/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [When I got to Alabama, I was really small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/when-i-got-to-alabama-i-was-really-small/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) [Explore all 104 Amari Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) ## More Better quotes > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/) [Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/) [Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/) > [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/) [Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) > [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/) [Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/) Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to play running back, but they would never put me at running back. I started loving receiver and as I kept growing older, we kept throwing the ball more and I kept liking it more and more. It's something I've played all my life. 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