--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to be a smart quarterback. I'm not…" description: "\"I try to be a smart quarterback. I'm not the fastest or the best athlete, but if I can know what the defense is doing and stick to my job and what need..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/eli-manning-8497_athlete_i-try-to-be-a-smart-quarterback-i-m-not_1389406.jpg" --- # I try to be a smart quarterback. I'm not the fastest or… ![“I try to be a smart quarterback. I'm not the fastest or the best athlete, but if I can know what the defense is doing and stick to my job and what needs to be done I can make the plays needed to move the ball and score.” quote by Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/eli-manning-8497_athlete_i-try-to-be-a-smart-quarterback-i-m-not_1389406.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/eli-manning-8497_athlete_i-try-to-be-a-smart-quarterback-i-m-not_1389406.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/eli-manning-8497_athlete_i-try-to-be-a-smart-quarterback-i-m-not_1389406.jpg) > “I try to be a smart quarterback. I'm not the fastest or the best athlete, but if I can know what the defense is doing and stick to my job and what needs to be done I can make the plays needed to move the ball and score.” [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strategic thinking in sports: using intelligence over raw speed to achieve success. **In simple terms:** Smart play beats raw talent. Key Takeaway Study opponents to make effective moves. Themes strategy intelligence teamwork leadership Mood strategic motivational pragmatic Type sports leadership When to use this quote - football games - business negotiations - project management - military tactics Key Concepts game theory situational awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance analysis with instinct? - When is it okay to take a risk? A Different Perspective Physical limits may hinder execution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) [Best athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-athlete/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Defense Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-doing-4127955/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Plays Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays-needed-4836726/) [Quarterback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarterback/) [Quarterback Fastest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarterback-fastest-4836725/) [Score](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/score/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart Quarterback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-quarterback-2212484/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [Alex Smith is - I think he is a winner, and he's a smart quarterback, and I'm a fan of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/alex-smith-is-i-think-he-is-a-winner-and-he-s-a-smart-quarterback-and/) [Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/) > [I just try to make plays when needed and pick up the loose ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-ariza/i-just-try-to-make-plays-when-needed-and-pick-up-the-loose-ends/) [Trevor Ariza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-ariza/) > [Anybody who has watched me play knows I'm not one of the fastest guys, but I understand what's going on around me and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/anybody-who-has-watched-me-play-knows-i-m-not-one-of-the-fastest-guys/) [Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/) > [I like people talking about me, about my defense or what I'm doing. I like to see that, and that makes me work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-beltran/i-like-people-talking-about-me-about-my-defense-or-what-i-m-doing-i/) [Carlos Beltran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-beltran/) > [I'm going to go out and be the best quarterback I can be and get the most out of my potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-going-to-go-out-and-be-the-best-quarterback-i-can-be-and-get-the/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [As a player, that's not your responsibility to comment and to give your opinion on another player. As a quarterback, I don't want another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/as-a-player-that-s-not-your-responsibility-to-comment-and-to-give/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [The quarterback, you can play with a lot of big injuries. You get a little injury like an index finger or a thumb that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/the-quarterback-you-can-play-with-a-lot-of-big-injuries-you-get-a/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Teenage girls, please don’t worry about being super popular in high school, or being the best actress in high school, or the best athlete.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/teenage-girls-please-don-t-worry-about-being-super-popular-in-high/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [The sun has been there for 500, 600 years ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-cameron/the-sun-has-been-there-for-500-600-years/) [Mike Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-cameron/) > [When you look at guys who get recruited, most of the best athletes, they come from poor families. I don't forget. I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/when-you-look-at-guys-who-get-recruited-most-of-the-best-athletes/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [Tiger is the best athlete that this level of golf has seen. He's lean, he's strong, his swing is marvelous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-marucci/tiger-is-the-best-athlete-that-this-level-of-golf-has-seen-he-s-lean/) [Buddy Marucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-marucci/) > [If you only ever give 90% in training then you will only ever give 90% when it matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-owen/if-you-only-ever-give-90-in-training-then-you-will-only-ever-give-90/) [Michael Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-owen/) > [Most of us have been in a street fight at one point or another and it's not always the best athlete that wins. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-collinsworth/most-of-us-have-been-in-a-street-fight-at-one-point-or-another-and-it/) [Cris Collinsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-collinsworth/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) ## More by Eli Manning > [I'm not worried about where I rank between other QBs in the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-not-worried-about-where-i-rank-between-other-qbs-in-the-league/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [We just have to go after our game plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/we-just-have-to-go-after-our-game-plan/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I worried coming in for my freshman year what my teammates would think of me. I was a little scared they would think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-worried-coming-in-for-my-freshman-year-what-my-teammates-would/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I don't play basketball for the money. I don't play it for the crowd. When I didn't have a friend, when I was lonely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-don-t-play-basketball-for-the-money-i-don-t-play-it-for-the-crowd/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Strike one is a big, big pitch-you can do a lot after you get strike one, no matter how you get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/strike-one-is-a-big-big-pitch-you-can-do-a-lot-after-you-get-strike/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I go through life with a smile because I know things can be worse than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-go-through-life-with-a-smile-because-i-know-things-can-be-worse/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [The quarterback, you can play with a lot of big injuries. You get a little injury like an index finger or a thumb that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/the-quarterback-you-can-play-with-a-lot-of-big-injuries-you-get-a/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [You can't join a team and give up on it because you lose a few games or things aren't going well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/you-can-t-join-a-team-and-give-up-on-it-because-you-lose-a-few-games/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I never try to be something I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-never-try-to-be-something-i-m-not/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I try to stay level-headed and it's always the way I've been. Sometimes your personality out in the real world, you want to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-try-to-stay-level-headed-and-it-s-always-the-way-i-ve-been/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I've always been a player and a person who wanted to be the best at whatever he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-ve-always-been-a-player-and-a-person-who-wanted-to-be-the-best-at/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Money isn't always going to make it happen. It's important to be around people that have the right kind of attitude, being happy about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/money-isn-t-always-going-to-make-it-happen-it-s-important-to-be/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/with-the-game-on-the-line-i-want-the-ball-in-my-hands/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I'm old school. I'm locked into my own little circle. If you cross the line, you're going to get bit. They'll always know where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-old-school-i-m-locked-into-my-own-little-circle-if-you-cross-the/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Mom runs the family. Shes the kind of person who, without her, wed be lost. She supports us. I got real close to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/mom-runs-the-family-shes-the-kind-of-person-who-without-her-wed-be/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) [Explore all 80 Eli Manning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try to be a smart quarterback. 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