You have to understand that in this league, we are all one play removed from being the starter or from being the backup, in any game.
I was a walk-on at Maryland, I had to earn my scholarship and starter spot, and the things that’ve come after.
For whatever reason, whenever I’m having a get-together, I’ll turn on my projector and play YouTube videos of ‘Russian driving fails.’ Russians all have dashboard cameras in their cars, so there are all these videos of crazy wrecks and people almost getting hit in the street. It’s a conversation starter, for sure.
My dream is eventually becoming the greatest talent to come out of the United States and New York, being a starter, and playing for my country.
I can put my legs behind my head, but that’s pretty much it. An early agent said to me, ‘If you can put your legs behind your head, let’s say you’re a contortionist!’ So I got sent out for everything twisty and bendy. It’s a good conversation starter.
If I am ever the starter of the Denver Broncos, I want it to be because I earned it.
It’s a different mind-set going into the off-season as a starter. The uncertainty from the team is gone, and your confidence grows.
Nick Foles, if he wasn’t preparing like he was the starter, he wouldn’t have been able to become a Super Bowl MVP.
With the Selecao, every substitute is a starter in their club teams, so the competition is always top notch.
Everybody in this league waits on an opportunity when you don’t play the starter minutes, when you don’t play the type of minutes you want. And with each given opportunity, you got to be ready to come out and perform.
I really started from the bottom. When I got drafted, I was not playing. I had to work my way up. Then I got traded, came off the bench, then became a starter.
I can play high-level football and have a good year, all year, and then I am ready to be a starter for United.
Even if you watch the races I won – the indoor titles and the Olympics – I’ve never really been a superfast starter.
It’s true that at Malaga, I played every game as a starter, but here at Madrid, they give nothing away.
I would not put Dak Prescott on the bench. I would leave him as the starter, and I wouldn’t have a problem with that at all.
I’m not stupid: if I have not been a starter with Ancelotti, Benitez and Zidane, it’s my fault.
To me, there’s no honor to say, ‘I’m going to start.’ As long as you’re getting minutes, you’re closing games, that shows more of the value to the team than to say you’re a starter.
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