One rival coach marvelled at how Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs have maintained their focus on the pitch as their fame has grown.
"These guys are completely committed, and they still have time for State Farm commercials and podcasts," the coach told The Athletic's Mike Sando.
Sando also contrasted Mahomes and Kelce's attendance at summer practices with how some other players treated their offseason workouts.
He especially mentioned Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase staging a "hold in" while negotiating a new deal
as well as Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missing several OTAs.
"These are the sorts of things that come to mind when the margins are so small and Kansas City prevails without playing its best," Sando said.
Beyond the roster turnover that comes with being in a salary-capped league, extremely successful teams like the Chiefs might struggle to maintain the same level of sharpness and focus.
Former Denver Broncos defensive lineman Trevor Pryce shared his thoughts with ESPN's Elizabeth Merrill as a two-time Super Bowl champion who was part of the team's quest for a third consecutive victory.