--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It didn't seem fair that no matter how…" description: "\"It didn't seem fair that no matter how many passes I caught or how many touchdowns I scored, I was considered a 'lowly tight end' and would never be pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/tony-gonzalez-3785_elite_it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-m_1131562.jpg" --- # It didn't seem fair that no matter how many passes I… ![“It didn't seem fair that no matter how many passes I caught or how many touchdowns I scored, I was considered a 'lowly tight end' and would never be paid anywhere close to a salary as high as the elite wide receivers.” quote by Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/tony-gonzalez-3785_elite_it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-m_1131562.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/tony-gonzalez-3785_elite_it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-m_1131562.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/tony-gonzalez-3785_elite_it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-m_1131562.jpg) > “It didn't seem fair that no matter how many passes I caught or how many touchdowns I scored, I was considered a 'lowly tight end' and would never be paid anywhere close to a salary as high as the elite wide receivers.” [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even with strong performance, positional bias limits earnings and recognition. **In simple terms:** Position stereotypes affect pay. Key Takeaway Challenge unfair valuation of roles. Themes sports fairness pay equity Mood motivational critical Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - NFL contracts - team negotiations - player advocacy Key Concepts labor economics role bias Questions to Reflect On - How can leagues ensure equitable pay? - What biases exist in other sports? A Different Perspective Market dynamics also consider revenue generation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caught Touchdowns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caught-touchdowns-3111323/) [Elite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elite/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Passes Caught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passes-caught-3111325/) [Salary High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salary-high-3111324/) [Tight End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tight-end/) [Wide receiver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide-receiver/) [Wide Receivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide-receivers-760722/) ## Related quotes > [Tight end is one of the hardest positions to play in football. It's right up there with quarterback and cornerback. You have to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/tight-end-is-one-of-the-hardest-positions-to-play-in-football-it-s/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I know wide receivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/i-know-wide-receivers/) [Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/) > [Sometimes when I watch a game, there are often more wide receivers on the field than we had on our whole team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-starr/sometimes-when-i-watch-a-game-there-are-often-more-wide-receivers-on/) [Bart Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-starr/) > [When you bring in two wide receivers, it makes everybody say, 'OK, all right, there's a little more competition in this room,' which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-hopkins/when-you-bring-in-two-wide-receivers-it-makes-everybody-say-ok-all/) [DeAndre Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-hopkins/) > [These Seattle Seahawks wide receivers have been called pedestrian, they've been called no-namers, but they always come up with the big play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-burleson/these-seattle-seahawks-wide-receivers-have-been-called-pedestrian/) [Nate Burleson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-burleson/) > [Most wide receivers are soft, honestly, so once you get in their mind, it plays into my hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-ramsey/most-wide-receivers-are-soft-honestly-so-once-you-get-in-their-mind/) [Jalen Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-ramsey/) > [A lot of wide receivers, they always run their routes at 100% speed. As a DB, that allows you to get a feel for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris-jr/a-lot-of-wide-receivers-they-always-run-their-routes-at-100-speed-as/) [Chris Harris, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris-jr/) > [My offensive line, tight ends and wide receivers have done a great job to make sure I get into the end zone and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/my-offensive-line-tight-ends-and-wide-receivers-have-done-a-great-job/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) > [The history with wide receivers, I follow it pretty close. I look at Art Monk, I look at Lynn Swann, I look at Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/the-history-with-wide-receivers-i-follow-it-pretty-close-i-look-at/) [Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/) > [Look at Drew Brees' stats. He's getting the ball to all of his wide receivers. As a receiver, when you see that, you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandin-cooks/look-at-drew-brees-stats-he-s-getting-the-ball-to-all-of-his-wide/) [Brandin Cooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandin-cooks/) > [So many kids dream about playing in the NFL. But I was 130 pounds in ninth grade. I looked around and didn't see any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-burroughs/so-many-kids-dream-about-playing-in-the-nfl-but-i-was-130-pounds-in/) [Jordan Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-burroughs/) > [At the tight end position, you're asked to do so many things. You'll see me split out wide singled up like a wide receiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kelce/at-the-tight-end-position-you-re-asked-to-do-so-many-things-you-ll/) [Travis Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kelce/) > [The glory of the big catch is applied more at wide receiver, and tight end would be an even match at my size. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-cajuste/the-glory-of-the-big-catch-is-applied-more-at-wide-receiver-and-tight/) [Devon Cajuste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-cajuste/) > [I try to prove that I can be either a wide receiver or a flex tight end. Put me in the slot, put me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-cajuste/i-try-to-prove-that-i-can-be-either-a-wide-receiver-or-a-flex-tight/) [Devon Cajuste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-cajuste/) > [When I went to the Pro Bowl, I went as a tight end. When I made the All Pro team, I made it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/when-i-went-to-the-pro-bowl-i-went-as-a-tight-end-when-i-made-the-all/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) ## More by Tony Gonzalez > [You learn a lot more about yourself and the opportunity for growth is so much greater when you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/you-learn-a-lot-more-about-yourself-and-the-opportunity-for-growth-is/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [The Super Bowl obviously wasn't in my cards, and I'm OK with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/the-super-bowl-obviously-wasn-t-in-my-cards-and-i-m-ok-with-that/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I've been able to play for some of the best fans in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-ve-been-able-to-play-for-some-of-the-best-fans-in-the-nfl/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I've been on some really good teams, but we weren't able to get over the hump. It's offense, defense and special teams, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-ve-been-on-some-really-good-teams-but-we-weren-t-able-to-get-over/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I want to go to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-want-to-go-to-the-super-bowl-and-win-the-super-bowl/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [Football is my love. Football is what I'm going to do. I'm a football player first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/football-is-my-love-football-is-what-i-m-going-to-do-i-m-a-football/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I think when you give, that's probably the highest form of living. It's better than almost any feeling you could think of. It's way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-think-when-you-give-that-s-probably-the-highest-form-of-living-it-s/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [When I got to the NFL, they asked me what number I wanted, and I said No. 44, but they told me tight ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/when-i-got-to-the-nfl-they-asked-me-what-number-i-wanted-and-i-said/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [My career, it's turned out to be something more than I ever thought and more than I ever dreamed. It's been an unbelievable ride.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/my-career-it-s-turned-out-to-be-something-more-than-i-ever-thought/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [As far as the regrets go, that's just not part of my makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/as-far-as-the-regrets-go-that-s-just-not-part-of-my-makeup/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I've always wanted a ring. That's been my main goal as a player over the last 15 years of my career. You're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-ve-always-wanted-a-ring-that-s-been-my-main-goal-as-a-player-over/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [When you find yourself in those situations where you have to take action in a crucial situation, you just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/when-you-find-yourself-in-those-situations-where-you-have-to-take/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I didn't start my whole rookie year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-didn-t-start-my-whole-rookie-year/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [There aren't many football players other than kickers who are Latin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/there-aren-t-many-football-players-other-than-kickers-who-are-latin/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [My grandfather spoke fluent Spanish and I have family members who speak fluent Spanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/my-grandfather-spoke-fluent-spanish-and-i-have-family-members-who/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) [Explore all 122 Tony Gonzalez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) ## More Elite quotes > [The strange rejection of the expert is mind boggling to me. When we're told that the worst word in politics is 'elite,' I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/the-strange-rejection-of-the-expert-is-mind-boggling-to-me-when-we-re/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [The hope of Internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the Internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-hope-of-internet-anarchists-was-that-repressive-governments-would/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [In UFC there are K-1 strikers, but I want to be good at everything. You can be an elite striker, but I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovince-saint-preux/in-ufc-there-are-k-1-strikers-but-i-want-to-be-good-at-everything-you/) [Ovince Saint Preux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovince-saint-preux/) > [“If you are frustrated with the elite of your society, do something about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/if-you-are-frustrated-with-the-elite-of-your-society-do-something/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [There's a lot of pressure, and it's a long battle, to coach at the elite level. My wife and I didn't take a vacation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liang-chow/there-s-a-lot-of-pressure-and-it-s-a-long-battle-to-coach-at-the/) [Liang Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liang-chow/) > [Economists actually disagree about whether there are significant economic returns from attending an elite college versus a less-selective one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-oster/economists-actually-disagree-about-whether-there-are-significant/) [Emily Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-oster/) > [“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/as-democracy-is-perfected-the-office-of-president-represents-more-and/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding-its-way/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [As countries embrace mass higher education, the cost of maintaining universities increases dramatically relative to an elite system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/as-countries-embrace-mass-higher-education-the-cost-of-maintaining/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [When you are dealing with a mass movement, as opposed to a quote-unquote "elite," you are talking to people who don't have time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hamilton/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-mass-movement-as-opposed-to-a-quote/) [Rebecca Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hamilton/) > [“The Warrior Elite,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/the-warrior-elite/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [Outside of the Moscow elite and a very small urban elite, Russia is one great big blue-collar country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-hill/outside-of-the-moscow-elite-and-a-very-small-urban-elite-russia-is/) [Fiona Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-hill/) > [Sometimes people who want to understand Haiti from a political perspective may be missing part of the picture. They also need to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/sometimes-people-who-want-to-understand-haiti-from-a-political/) [Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/) > [Having cancer gave me membership in an elite club I'd rather not belong to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/having-cancer-gave-me-membership-in-an-elite-club-i-d-rather-not/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) [Browse all 392 Elite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elite/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It didn't seem fair that no matter how many passes I caught or how many touchdowns I scored, I was considered a 'lowly tight end' and would never be paid anywhere close to a salary as high as the elite wide receivers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tony Gonzalez" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-many-passes-i-caught-or-how/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Elite" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-many-passes-i-caught-or-how/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/tony-gonzalez-3785_elite_it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-m_1131562.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/tony-gonzalez-3785_elite_it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-m_1131562.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/tony-gonzalez-3785_elite_it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-m_1131562.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It didn't seem fair that no matter how many passes I caught or how many touchdowns I scored, I was…” — Tony Gonzalez", "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": "Tony Gonzalez", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It didn't seem fair that no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-many-passes-i-caught-or-how/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/it-didn-t-seem-fair-that-no-matter-how-many-passes-i-caught-or-how/#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 } } ] } ```