--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This game is more than just a check to…" description: "\"This game is more than just a check to me. That's why you play hurt. You play tired. You go through all of those emotions because you love this game, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7eb/micah-parsons-5857_best_this-game-is-more-than-just-a-check-to-m_1374060.jpg" --- # This game is more than just a check to me. That's why you… ![“This game is more than just a check to me. That's why you play hurt. You play tired. You go through all of those emotions because you love this game, and you only get 17 days out of 365 to show why you're the best.” quote by Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7eb/micah-parsons-5857_best_this-game-is-more-than-just-a-check-to-m_1374060.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7eb/micah-parsons-5857_best_this-game-is-more-than-just-a-check-to-m_1374060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7eb/micah-parsons-5857_best_this-game-is-more-than-just-a-check-to-m_1374060.jpg) > “This game is more than just a check to me. That's why you play hurt. You play tired. You go through all of those emotions because you love this game, and you only get 17 days out of 365 to show why you're the best.” [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The sport is a brief, intense period where players push through pain and emotion to prove their excellence. **In simple terms:** Sports are short, intense, and emotionally demanding. Key Takeaway Give your all during limited opportunities. Themes sports determination emotional endurance competition Mood intense focused Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - season preparation - game day focus - mental toughness Key Concepts psychology of performance team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to play through pain? - How do you maximize a short window of opportunity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Check Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/check-play-4442692/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Hurt Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-play-1644930/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Play Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-hurt-1705097/) [Play Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-tired-2058507/) [Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired/) ## Related quotes > [That's what the CTC means, whoever cuts that check, that's who I have to play for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-wallace/that-s-what-the-ctc-means-whoever-cuts-that-check-that-s-who-i-have/) [Rasheed Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-wallace/) > [I never came off the field in high school. You had to be in shape. You had to be able to play when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-vander-esch/i-never-came-off-the-field-in-high-school-you-had-to-be-in-shape-you/) [Leighton Vander Esch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-vander-esch/) > [“You don´t have to win the game, play until the others get tired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/you-don-t-have-to-win-the-game-play-until-the-others-get-tired/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [“Little girls get hurt when they play grown-up games.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/little-girls-get-hurt-when-they-play-grown-up-games/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [I have the mentality that if you come in playing not to get hurt, that's when you're going to get hurt. So I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-peterson/i-have-the-mentality-that-if-you-come-in-playing-not-to-get-hurt-that/) [Adrian Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-peterson/) > [I should hurt a lot more people than I do. Id like to hurt someone on every play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/i-should-hurt-a-lot-more-people-than-i-do-id-like-to-hurt-someone-on/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [I should hurt a lot more people than I do. I'd like to hurt someone on every play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/i-should-hurt-a-lot-more-people-than-i-do-i-d-like-to-hurt-someone-on/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [The difference between pros and amateurs is that pros play hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/the-difference-between-pros-and-amateurs-is-that-pros-play-hurt/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [Some of the great John Wayne hero things that have ever happened in football happened because people play hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things-that-have-ever-happened-in/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [Some guys play not to get hurt, and they're never really as good as they can be. That's not the way I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-kent/some-guys-play-not-to-get-hurt-and-they-re-never-really-as-good-as/) [Jeff Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kent/) > [One thing I learned is that people don't care if you go out there and play hurt. They're always going to talk about your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-correa/one-thing-i-learned-is-that-people-don-t-care-if-you-go-out-there-and/) [Carlos Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-correa/) > [The athlete knows the day will never come when he wakes up pain-free. He has to play hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-athlete-knows-the-day-will-never-come-when-he-wakes-up-pain-free/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [It's a risk-reward thing. If I do go out and try and play and get hurt again, then I'm definitely out. I've got no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ralston/it-s-a-risk-reward-thing-if-i-do-go-out-and-try-and-play-and-get-hurt/) [Steve Ralston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ralston/) > [Dont play with me coz I play back.Nobody can hurt me without my permission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/admin-darkangel/dont-play-with-me-coz-i-play-back-nobody-can-hurt-me-without-my/) [Admin Darkangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/admin-darkangel/) > [“This is a touch game. There are times when you've got to play hurt when you've got to block out the pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/this-is-a-touch-game-there-are-times-when-you-ve-got-to-play-hurt/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## More by Micah Parsons > [At the end of the day, football is just part of me, it's my love, my passion and my drive. But I understand at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/at-the-end-of-the-day-football-is-just-part-of-me-it-s-my-love-my/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [I believe in myself and my confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-believe-in-myself-and-my-confidence/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [Zim doesn't say a lot, but he says why. He's not a coach who is just going to tell you to do something. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/zim-doesn-t-say-a-lot-but-he-says-why-he-s-not-a-coach-who-is-just/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [Anybody who knows anything about me knows that I'm for the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/anybody-who-knows-anything-about-me-knows-that-i-m-for-the-people/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [I think those rings and those moments where your best player steps up, it leads and carries and brings everyone else around you. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-think-those-rings-and-those-moments-where-your-best-player-steps-up/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [When you put two great minds, great things can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/when-you-put-two-great-minds-great-things-can-happen/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [I just need to learn how to get better and understand my role in the defense and just find a way to keep building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-just-need-to-learn-how-to-get-better-and-understand-my-role-in-the/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [I know the type of person I'm becoming. I know the type of father I'm becoming, and that's all that matters to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-know-the-type-of-person-i-m-becoming-i-know-the-type-of-father-i-m/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [I can do it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-can-do-it-all/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [I like to be flawless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-like-to-be-flawless/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [Everybody comes for the Finals, everybody comes for the Super Bowl, because that's the most important moment in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/everybody-comes-for-the-finals-everybody-comes-for-the-super-bowl/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [As a football player, you have to learn to pick and choose your battles and what to gamble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/as-a-football-player-you-have-to-learn-to-pick-and-choose-your/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [If y'all just going to hate Cowboys nation, just say y'all hate Cowboys nation. But don't sit here and throw shade on us. Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/if-y-all-just-going-to-hate-cowboys-nation-just-say-y-all-hate/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [The DBs help me a lot being able to hold the receivers so that way I can get the pressure and sacks and things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/the-dbs-help-me-a-lot-being-able-to-hold-the-receivers-so-that-way-i/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [I think I would put myself up there with the elite guys around the league in terms of impacting the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-think-i-would-put-myself-up-there-with-the-elite-guys-around-the/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) [Explore all 100 Micah Parsons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. 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When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [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/) > [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) [Gene Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-scott/) > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. 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