--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This was a no-brainer, ... When it came…" description: "\"This was a no-brainer, ... When it came down to it, I said to myself, Hey, you can still play, you can still play at a high level and you still enjoy p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/shannon-sharpe-4881_enjoy_this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down_398058.png" --- # This was a no-brainer, ... When it came down to it, I said… ![“This was a no-brainer, ... When it came down to it, I said to myself, Hey, you can still play, you can still play at a high level and you still enjoy playing. Why not play?” quote by Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/shannon-sharpe-4881_enjoy_this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down_398058.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/shannon-sharpe-4881_enjoy_this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down_398058.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/shannon-sharpe-4881_enjoy_this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down_398058.png) > “This was a no-brainer, ... When it came down to it, I said to myself, Hey, you can still play, you can still play at a high level and you still enjoy playing. Why not play?” [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even when faced with doubts, continue playing at a high level if you still enjoy it. **In simple terms:** Keep playing if passion remains. Key Takeaway Play on while you love it. Themes sports resilience passion Mood determined optimistic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - training decisions - season preparation - post‑injury comeback - mentorship Key Concepts athlete mindset career longevity Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to keep playing? - How do you assess when to retire? A Different Perspective Physical decline may eventually limit performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [No brainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-brainer/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Why not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-not/) ## Related quotes > [It gives you a better chance of playing if you can play a number of positions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/it-gives-you-a-better-chance-of-playing-if-you-can-play-a-number-of/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [When I'm playing, I play what I want, but I make sure that the crowd is going to love it at the same time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaytranada/when-i-m-playing-i-play-what-i-want-but-i-make-sure-that-the-crowd-is/) [Kaytranada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaytranada/) > [If I was to keep playing, I had to play in Detroit, and it just wasn't for me anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/if-i-was-to-keep-playing-i-had-to-play-in-detroit-and-it-just-wasn-t/) [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) > [We are fully human only while playing, and we play only when we are human in the truest sense of the word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/we-are-fully-human-only-while-playing-and-we-play-only-when-we-are/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [If I go to places where other people are playing, I often get up and play myself. I just enjoy the sound and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-may/if-i-go-to-places-where-other-people-are-playing-i-often-get-up-and/) [Brian May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-may/) > [I just play to win. I play to be competitive; that's it. I think every player hopes that they do something special that everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-lee/i-just-play-to-win-i-play-to-be-competitive-that-s-it-i-think-every/) Cliff Lee > [In fact, the element of play has an important role in my life, and I think that should be the case in the life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-fischer-dieskau/in-fact-the-element-of-play-has-an-important-role-in-my-life-and-i/) [Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-fischer-dieskau/) > [I can just be one of those guys that used in the mix, playing 4 or 5 if we play smaller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markieff-morris/i-can-just-be-one-of-those-guys-that-used-in-the-mix-playing-4-or-5/) [Markieff Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markieff-morris/) > [The one or two I'm comfortable playing. They might even play me at the five sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-clarkson/the-one-or-two-i-m-comfortable-playing-they-might-even-play-me-at-the/) [Jordan Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-clarkson/) > [The emptiness of play is when there is no self present. There is no one playing - there is only play itself taking place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-emptiness-of-play-is-when-there-is-no-self-present-there-is-no/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I haven't stopped playing. If you play all the time, then your chops are up and you tend to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-schon/i-haven-t-stopped-playing-if-you-play-all-the-time-then-your-chops/) [Neal Schon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-schon/) > [It has always been in my make up to play a high percentage of games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/it-has-always-been-in-my-make-up-to-play-a-high-percentage-of-games/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [I have a deep desire to have success, to play a high level, and to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/i-have-a-deep-desire-to-have-success-to-play-a-high-level-and-to-win/) [Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/) > [It seems to me that most people are impressed with just three things: how fast you can play, how high you can play, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-baker/it-seems-to-me-that-most-people-are-impressed-with-just-three-things/) [Chet Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-baker/) > [I want to play as high as I can in football, as anyone does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mullin/i-want-to-play-as-high-as-i-can-in-football-as-anyone-does/) [Paul Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mullin/) ## More by Shannon Sharpe > [Adrian Peterson has home-run speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/adrian-peterson-has-home-run-speed/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I was a terrible student. I didn't graduate magna cum laude: I graduated 'Thank you, Lawdy!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-was-a-terrible-student-i-didn-t-graduate-magna-cum-laude-i/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [Some guys get on the road, the first thing they do is look for the nearest golf course. I look for a gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/some-guys-get-on-the-road-the-first-thing-they-do-is-look-for-the/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I really carried that seventh-round tag with me my whole career, even at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-really-carried-that-seventh-round-tag-with-me-my-whole-career-even/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [There's not a throw that Tom Brady can make that Aaron Rodgers can't, but there are several throws that Aaron Rodgers can make that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/there-s-not-a-throw-that-tom-brady-can-make-that-aaron-rodgers-can-t/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [In our culture, when the parents are having a tough time, the grandparents take care of the kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/in-our-culture-when-the-parents-are-having-a-tough-time-the/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [Growing up on a farm, I saw that if I didn't go to the military or go to school, and I knew my mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/growing-up-on-a-farm-i-saw-that-if-i-didn-t-go-to-the-military-or-go/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [You have to do more than the coaches ask you, or you'll never be a great player in this league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/you-have-to-do-more-than-the-coaches-ask-you-or-you-ll-never-be-a/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I like to think my teammates had a good time when I was around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-like-to-think-my-teammates-had-a-good-time-when-i-was-around/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I can't for the life of me - and I've tried - love someone like I love my grandmother, my sister and my mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-can-t-for-the-life-of-me-and-i-ve-tried-love-someone-like-i-love-my/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I'm all in on 'Undisputed,' and that's where I was with football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-m-all-in-on-undisputed-and-that-s-where-i-was-with-football/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I meet athletes from different backgrounds and see they share the same mentality and process as other athletes in other sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-meet-athletes-from-different-backgrounds-and-see-they-share-the/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I don't have a problem with athletes speaking up, but I want to make sure before they speak up, they read up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-don-t-have-a-problem-with-athletes-speaking-up-but-i-want-to-make/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I could have never been a high diver or a gymnast because I don't like subjectivity. I love where I'm faster than you,, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-could-have-never-been-a-high-diver-or-a-gymnast-because-i-don-t/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [We have never, ever, in the history of football seen a guy that possesses what Aaron Rodgers possesses. Nobody, no quarterback in history, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/we-have-never-ever-in-the-history-of-football-seen-a-guy-that/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) [Explore all 105 Shannon Sharpe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) ## More Enjoy quotes > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [The Fringe is by far my favorite time of year; I like everything about it. But there are people I know who are much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-horne/the-fringe-is-by-far-my-favorite-time-of-year-i-like-everything-about/) [Alex Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-horne/) > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [The Germans will make a few scattered attacks, then go away. The Romans will enjoy a fine September.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-badoglio/the-germans-will-make-a-few-scattered-attacks-then-go-away-the-romans/) Pietro Badoglio > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [I enjoy upsetting the right people. I love poking fun at earnest censors. I want to push the bounds of what can be said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/i-enjoy-upsetting-the-right-people-i-love-poking-fun-at-earnest/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [I really enjoy going to play for the national team and be with the guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/i-really-enjoy-going-to-play-for-the-national-team-and-be-with-the/) [Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/) > [The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-evening-s-the-best-part-of-the-day-you-ve-done-your-day-s-work/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [I really enjoy hosting, not necessarily because it provides more airtime, but because it allows me to be a part of more substantive discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-ponder/i-really-enjoy-hosting-not-necessarily-because-it-provides-more/) [Samantha Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-ponder/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/today-it-is-the-skeptics-who-are-the-social-conformists-though/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) Browse all 13,068 Enjoy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This was a no-brainer, ... When it came down to it, I said to myself, Hey, you can still play, you can still play at a high level and you still enjoy playing. Why not play?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shannon Sharpe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down-to-it-i-said-to-myself-hey/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enjoy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down-to-it-i-said-to-myself-hey/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/shannon-sharpe-4881_enjoy_this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down_398058.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/shannon-sharpe-4881_enjoy_this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down_398058.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/shannon-sharpe-4881_enjoy_this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down_398058.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This was a no-brainer, ... When it came down to it, I said to myself, Hey, you can still play, you can still…” — Shannon Sharpe", "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": "Shannon Sharpe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "This was a no-brainer, ... When...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down-to-it-i-said-to-myself-hey/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/this-was-a-no-brainer-when-it-came-down-to-it-i-said-to-myself-hey/#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 } } ] } ```