---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I prepared for the 2009 draft, I…"
description: "\"As I prepared for the 2009 draft, I vividly remember meeting with a prospective agent that told me if I put in the work, I could be a good special team..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/jason-mccourty-6223_draft_as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vivid_604888.jpg"
---

#  As I prepared for the 2009 draft, I vividly remember…

![“As I prepared for the 2009 draft, I vividly remember meeting with a prospective agent that told me if I put in the work, I could be a good special teams player in the league for a little bit. On one hand, thanks for the honesty, I guess. But I thought I might be capable of more.” quote by Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/jason-mccourty-6223_draft_as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vivid_604888.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/jason-mccourty-6223_draft_as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vivid_604888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/jason-mccourty-6223_draft_as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vivid_604888.jpg)

> “As I prepared for the 2009 draft, I vividly remember meeting with a prospective agent that told me if I put in the work, I could be a good special teams player in the league for a little bit. On one hand, thanks for the honesty, I guess. But I thought I might be capable of more.”

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Hard work can secure a role, but ambition may drive one to seek greater opportunities beyond modest expectations.

**In simple terms:** Work earns a role, but aim higher.

Key Takeaway

Balance effort with confidence in your potential.

Themes

career ambition self‑belief professional growth

Mood

motivational reflective

Type

inspirational pragmatic

When to use this quote

- training camps
- career planning
- team negotiations
- personal development

Key Concepts

sports psychology goal setting self‑efficacy

Questions to Reflect On

- What higher goals motivate you beyond immediate tasks?
- How can you negotiate for broader opportunities?

A Different Perspective

Focusing only on short‑term roles may limit long‑term growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[2009 Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/2009-draft-4924022/) [Agent Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agent-told-460482/) [Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft/) [Draft Vividly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft-vividly-4924024/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Prospective Agent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prospective-agent-4924023/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Special teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-teams/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [At first, when my agent told me, 'They want you to do an interview, a piece for '60 Minutes,' I was like, 'What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-antetokounmpo/at-first-when-my-agent-told-me-they-want-you-to-do-an-interview-a/)

[Giannis Antetokounmpo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-antetokounmpo/)

> [One FBI agent told us early on that on Monday morning, they would get to the FBI office, and all the agents would talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-winter/one-fbi-agent-told-us-early-on-that-on-monday-morning-they-would-get/)

[Terence Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-winter/)

> [So I did 'Celebrity Big Brother' and while I was locked in a house with crazy people I came out and Denise had actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-glanville/so-i-did-celebrity-big-brother-and-while-i-was-locked-in-a-house-with/)

[Brandi Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-glanville/)

> [I would do a film, make the money, then take off for six months to Europe, India or Russia. My agent told me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-sheffer/i-would-do-a-film-make-the-money-then-take-off-for-six-months-to/)

[Craig Sheffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-sheffer/)

> [I recall the first time my agent told me to wear clothes specifically chosen for me, I would try and find excuses not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahar-rahim/i-recall-the-first-time-my-agent-told-me-to-wear-clothes-specifically/)

[Tahar Rahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahar-rahim/)

> [When my agent told me he had a voice-over job I thought it was a Disney thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hayes/when-my-agent-told-me-he-had-a-voice-over-job-i-thought-it-was-a/)

[Isaac Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hayes/)

> [My agent suggested me to EastEnders casting director, Julia Crampsie, who I already knew. I'm delighted that Julia said, He's not old enough is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/my-agent-suggested-me-to-eastenders-casting-director-julia-crampsie/)

[Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/)

> [An agent once told me that if I would lose my English accent, I would never stop working in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/an-agent-once-told-me-that-if-i-would-lose-my-english-accent-i-would/)

[Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/)

> [“Your boys okay?” “Tired, edgy, but giving it all they’ve got. One of ‘em has sworn to get Vau, another is having a love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-traviss/your-boys-okay-tired-edgy-but-giving-it-all-they-ve-got-one-of-em-has/)

[Karen Traviss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-traviss/)

> [I was filming 'Father Brown' when my agent told me about the audition. As soon as I heard the words 'Line of Duty,' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-jessie/i-was-filming-father-brown-when-my-agent-told-me-about-the-audition/)

[Claudia Jessie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-jessie/)

> [I got in touch with my agent and told him I wanted to start going out on things again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-yothers/i-got-in-touch-with-my-agent-and-told-him-i-wanted-to-start-going-out/)

[Tina Yothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-yothers/)

> [After Cannes, my agent told me to get the next flight to LA. He was right. I had a part in 'Prime Suspect 3'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-thewlis/after-cannes-my-agent-told-me-to-get-the-next-flight-to-la-he-was/)

[David Thewlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-thewlis/)

> [My first agent told me to change my name or I'd only play Jewish parts or Indians. Of course I refused to change it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-throne/my-first-agent-told-me-to-change-my-name-or-i-d-only-play-jewish/)

[Malachi Throne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-throne/)

> [When my agent told me that Chelsea were interested it was not something I even needed to think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar/when-my-agent-told-me-that-chelsea-were-interested-it-was-not/)

[Oscar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar/)

> [A travel agent told I could spend 7 nights in HAWAII no days just nights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/a-travel-agent-told-i-could-spend-7-nights-in-hawaii-no-days-just/)

[Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/)

## More by Jason McCourty

> [There's not one year to the next that you don't go through a number of changes, whether it's personnel, whether it's coaching, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/there-s-not-one-year-to-the-next-that-you-don-t-go-through-a-number/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [Obviously you want to contend for a Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/obviously-you-want-to-contend-for-a-super-bowl/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [Devin's a drama queen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/devin-s-a-drama-queen/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [I think ultimately to be able help with the holidays for somebody who might be a little less fortunate I think is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/i-think-ultimately-to-be-able-help-with-the-holidays-for-somebody-who/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [I've been blessed with health and an incredibly supportive circle of friends and family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/i-ve-been-blessed-with-health-and-an-incredibly-supportive-circle-of/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [It's been crazy to not only learn about the criminal justice system, but to see how it starts so young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/it-s-been-crazy-to-not-only-learn-about-the-criminal-justice-system/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [You always wanted to see your brother do well - score a lot of points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/you-always-wanted-to-see-your-brother-do-well-score-a-lot-of-points/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [As we search for change and seek for our voices to be heard, completing the census will help get us the resources we need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/as-we-search-for-change-and-seek-for-our-voices-to-be-heard/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [My two brothers and myself never had to look outside of our house in search of a hero. We got to witness one up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/my-two-brothers-and-myself-never-had-to-look-outside-of-our-house-in/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [There's always going to be something from one season to the next that's going to be a challenge, that's going to have change, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/there-s-always-going-to-be-something-from-one-season-to-the-next-that/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [I'm nervous before every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/i-m-nervous-before-every-game/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [Being twins, growing up extremely close like we did, the one thing that you kind of always wish the maximum amount of success for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/being-twins-growing-up-extremely-close-like-we-did-the-one-thing-that/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [Some people don't believe in cold. I've gotten so used to it that I love it... and doing those things to get my muscles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/some-people-don-t-believe-in-cold-i-ve-gotten-so-used-to-it-that-i/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [Like, I've had full interactions with fans as my brother and they don't notice. Pretending to be Dev is easy. I just act like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/like-i-ve-had-full-interactions-with-fans-as-my-brother-and-they-don/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

> [The reality is, player-fan interaction for the 2020 season is going to be very minimal. Something as simple as charity events guys do year-in-and-year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/the-reality-is-player-fan-interaction-for-the-2020-season-is-going-to/)

[Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

[Explore all 99 Jason McCourty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/)

## More Draft quotes

> [A lot of young guys coming up in this league, they're given the spotlight right away, depending on draft stature or whatever the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/a-lot-of-young-guys-coming-up-in-this-league-they-re-given-the/)

[DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/)

> [A draft doesn't produce the people we need to satisfy our real manpower shortage. We need specialists to keep our jets flying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/a-draft-doesn-t-produce-the-people-we-need-to-satisfy-our-real/)

[Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/)

> [The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have-to-work-on-it-seven-to-eight/)

[Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/)

> [That would just mean so much to be to be thought of as the best player in the draft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-bosa/that-would-just-mean-so-much-to-be-to-be-thought-of-as-the-best/)

[Nick Bosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bosa/)

> [I read and write but my ideas don't go beyond the first draft. When they will, I will make it into a film probably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antara-mali/i-read-and-write-but-my-ideas-don-t-go-beyond-the-first-draft-when/)

[Antara Mali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antara-mali/)

> [I am a product of the draft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-inhofe/i-am-a-product-of-the-draft/)

[James Inhofe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-inhofe/)

> [I still wake up thinking about draft choices we should have made that would have impacted the franchise for a long time, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-still-wake-up-thinking-about-draft-choices-we-should-have-made-that/)

[Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/)

> [The first draft of 'Ex Machina' is extremely different than the finished film. That would be like 10% of the original draft stayed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-first-draft-of-ex-machina-is-extremely-different-than-the/)

[Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/)

> [At the combine and at my workouts, I tried to be the perfect player. I tried to promote my strengths and conceal my weaknesses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/at-the-combine-and-at-my-workouts-i-tried-to-be-the-perfect-player-i/)

[Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/)

> [There are some writers who are done when they finish a draft because they've thought it through beforehand. Whereas I'll finish a first draft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/there-are-some-writers-who-are-done-when-they-finish-a-draft-because/)

[Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/)

> [With my first book, I was hired to write a draft of the script. I was so young and less confident. They put me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/with-my-first-book-i-was-hired-to-write-a-draft-of-the-script-i-was/)

[Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/)

> [From watching the draft and following the NFL closely, anything can happen in the draft. But to me, it's not where I get drafted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saquon-barkley/from-watching-the-draft-and-following-the-nfl-closely-anything-can/)

[Saquon Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saquon-barkley/)

> [We just have fun with our NFL Draft coverage because we understand that it's a long process, and there can be technical glitches that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-eisen/we-just-have-fun-with-our-nfl-draft-coverage-because-we-understand/)

[Rich Eisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-eisen/)

> [“The first draft is always shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-first-draft-is-always-shit/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [Every first draft is perfect, because all a first draft has to do is exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/every-first-draft-is-perfect-because-all-a-first-draft-has-to-do-is/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

[Browse all 544 Draft quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "As I prepared for the 2009 draft, I vividly remember meeting with a prospective agent that told me if I put in the work, I could be a good special teams player in the league for a little bit. On one hand, thanks for the honesty, I guess. But I thought I might be capable of more.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jason McCourty"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vividly-remember-meeting-with-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Draft"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vividly-remember-meeting-with-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/jason-mccourty-6223_draft_as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vivid_604888.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/jason-mccourty-6223_draft_as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vivid_604888.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/jason-mccourty-6223_draft_as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vivid_604888.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“As I prepared for the 2009 draft, I vividly remember meeting with a prospective agent that told me if I put…” — Jason McCourty",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jason McCourty",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "As I prepared for the 2009...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vividly-remember-meeting-with-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/as-i-prepared-for-the-2009-draft-i-vividly-remember-meeting-with-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
