--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'll never short-change the game, whether…" description: "\"I'll never short-change the game, whether it's preseason or regular season. And that's why, when the switch flips on, I don't care if it's preseason or..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e44/t-j-watt-6545_don-t-care_i-ll-never-short-change-the-game-whether_1623971.jpg" --- # I'll never short-change the game, whether it's preseason… ![“I'll never short-change the game, whether it's preseason or regular season. And that's why, when the switch flips on, I don't care if it's preseason or not. You're just playing football.” quote by T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e44/t-j-watt-6545_don-t-care_i-ll-never-short-change-the-game-whether_1623971.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e44/t-j-watt-6545_don-t-care_i-ll-never-short-change-the-game-whether_1623971.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e44/t-j-watt-6545_don-t-care_i-ll-never-short-change-the-game-whether_1623971.jpg) > “I'll never short-change the game, whether it's preseason or regular season. And that's why, when the switch flips on, I don't care if it's preseason or not. You're just playing football.” [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes equal effort regardless of game importance. **In simple terms:** Play every game with full intensity. Key Takeaway Give your best every time. Themes sports commitment mindset Mood determined focused Type sports motivational When to use this quote - practice sessions - regular season - preseason - high-stakes games Key Concepts consistency focus professionalism Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain motivation across seasons? - When should you adjust effort? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout if intensity never varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-game/) [Don-t-care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-care/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Game Preseason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-preseason-310760/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Playing football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-football/) [Preseason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preseason/) [Preseason Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preseason-just-310759/) [Season Switch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/season-switch-310758/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) ## Related quotes > [You want to play a whole game, but in the preseason you've got to be smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mcnabb/you-want-to-play-a-whole-game-but-in-the-preseason-you-ve-got-to-be/) [Donovan McNabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mcnabb/) > [I want to be more than prepared for the game, for the preseason, for the season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-garrett/i-want-to-be-more-than-prepared-for-the-game-for-the-preseason-for/) [Myles Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-garrett/) > [If it's preseason, you just want to just do your job and make a play. At the exact same time, you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tucker/if-it-s-preseason-you-just-want-to-just-do-your-job-and-make-a-play/) [Justin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tucker/) > [Preseason is just a way to screw fans out of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/preseason-is-just-a-way-to-screw-fans-out-of-money/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [I've been on teams in the preseason where you're just begging guys to play hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/i-ve-been-on-teams-in-the-preseason-where-you-re-just-begging-guys-to/) [David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/) > [I'm not worried about sacks in the preseason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-pierre-paul/i-m-not-worried-about-sacks-in-the-preseason/) [Jason Pierre-Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-pierre-paul/) > [The preseason obviously is a different feel and you go to the regular season and it's a much different feel; the speed. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-slater/the-preseason-obviously-is-a-different-feel-and-you-go-to-the-regular/) [Matthew Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-slater/) > [Preseason is the basis for everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-matip/preseason-is-the-basis-for-everything/) [Joel Matip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-matip/) > [I'm anxious to see what the atmosphere's going to be like, ... It was pretty wild for the preseason games, but I'm sure they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-paul/i-m-anxious-to-see-what-the-atmosphere-s-going-to-be-like-it-was/) [Chris Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-paul/) > [I think the preseason helps a lot, just to feel a little bit about the speed of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-luck/i-think-the-preseason-helps-a-lot-just-to-feel-a-little-bit-about-the/) [Andrew Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-luck/) > [Any game is important to me. At Boston College, when I went out for the spring games, I wanted to win. Maybe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-flutie/any-game-is-important-to-me-at-boston-college-when-i-went-out-for-the/) [Doug Flutie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-flutie/) > [I cannot imagine for the life of me getting through a season with even a handful of wins after my offensive coordinator was fired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/i-cannot-imagine-for-the-life-of-me-getting-through-a-season-with/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) > [Guys that are playing in the preseason are one play away from being a starter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-reid/guys-that-are-playing-in-the-preseason-are-one-play-away-from-being-a/) [Eric Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-reid/) > [I think we sometimes think, 'it is just preseason. These games are for the fans mostly.' It's for ourselves to get in shape and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/i-think-we-sometimes-think-it-is-just-preseason-these-games-are-for/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [You hate to see a guy get hurt during the preseason, which is bound to happen... somebody is going to get hurt every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/you-hate-to-see-a-guy-get-hurt-during-the-preseason-which-is-bound-to/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) ## More by T. J. Watt > [You're seeing so many more mobile quarterbacks. I mean, each and every year it seems like some teams are converting from a traditional pro…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/you-re-seeing-so-many-more-mobile-quarterbacks-i-mean-each-and-every/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [I'm just out here trying to show that I'm consistent as possible, I can make plays and I can be trusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/i-m-just-out-here-trying-to-show-that-i-m-consistent-as-possible-i/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [I want to be physical. I want to rush the passer and I want to get to the football. That's exactly what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/i-want-to-be-physical-i-want-to-rush-the-passer-and-i-want-to-get-to/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [I always had the plan that I wanted to enter the NFL and I had the blueprint from both my brothers of just wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/i-always-had-the-plan-that-i-wanted-to-enter-the-nfl-and-i-had-the/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [I think everybody has to adjust to it. I don't know if anybody fully is prepared for zero-degree football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/i-think-everybody-has-to-adjust-to-it-i-don-t-know-if-anybody-fully/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [If you go back to all my interviews as a rookie, I was very shy and didn't want to say a lot at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/if-you-go-back-to-all-my-interviews-as-a-rookie-i-was-very-shy-and/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [The Steelers have invested in me and want me to be here long term. I want to be here long term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/the-steelers-have-invested-in-me-and-want-me-to-be-here-long-term-i/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [Being coachable and having a good time with your peers is what high school is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/being-coachable-and-having-a-good-time-with-your-peers-is-what-high/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [I think everyone wants to have a legacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/i-think-everyone-wants-to-have-a-legacy/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [My father instilled in me to always work as hard as I can, and if I do I can accomplish whatever I want. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/my-father-instilled-in-me-to-always-work-as-hard-as-i-can-and-if-i-do/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [If you're losing, you want to be in there to help out; if you're winning, you want to be in there to have fun,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/if-you-re-losing-you-want-to-be-in-there-to-help-out-if-you-re/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [Always try to put a smile on someone's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/always-try-to-put-a-smile-on-someone-s-face/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [It doesn't matter if we're on vacation or where we are. I'm going to work my butt off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/it-doesn-t-matter-if-we-re-on-vacation-or-where-we-are-i-m-going-to/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [After games, I'll literally sit in my apartment and watch football. I have it instilled in me from my brothers, J.J. especially, minimal gains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/after-games-i-ll-literally-sit-in-my-apartment-and-watch-football-i/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [I just feel like at any given moment I can make a splash play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/i-just-feel-like-at-any-given-moment-i-can-make-a-splash-play/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) [Explore all 98 T. J. 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I don't care how horrendous or ridiculous I may appear in person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/there-is-nothing-about-myself-that-i-wouldn-t-reveal-or-write-about-i/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [I don't care a damn for your loyal service when you think I am right; when I really want it most is when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-monash/i-don-t-care-a-damn-for-your-loyal-service-when-you-think-i-am-right/) [John Monash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-monash/) > [I spent two years in Palo Alto - what an awful, suffocating place for those of us who don't care about yoga, yogurts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/i-spent-two-years-in-palo-alto-what-an-awful-suffocating-place-for/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [I don't care who you are or what you have gone through - everyone has something they are fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-castronuova/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-or-what-you-have-gone-through-everyone-has/) [Cara Castronuova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-castronuova/) > ["Natural" is a very dangerous word to use about sexuality ... 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