These are the players - often some of the best in their position - that can be accused of caring more about themselves and being more interested in personal stats and showboating than they are about helping to create or maintain a winning culture at a franchise.
It’s perhaps somewhat refreshing, therefore, to hear Buffalo Bills wideout Amari Cooper explain his lack of personal production in his side’s post-season run so far.
The former Raiders, Cowboys and Browns veteran has just two catches for eight yards in the playoffs so far, failing to register a grab in last weekend’s win over Buffalo.
But rather than call for more involvement, Cooper sees the bigger picture.
"I'm very satisfied. I've never been this far in the playoffs," Cooper said, as per The Associated Press. "Obviously, every receiver wants to have, you know, 10-20 catches a game. But that's not always how the cookie crumbles.
"Winning is way more important, and there's many ways to win. So absolutely no complaints from me, because that's all I truly wanted. I mean, I've had it every other way and haven't really reached the pinnacle of this sport."
Cooper, who has five Pro Bowl appearances and six 1,000-yard seasons to his name during his ten-year career has been part of a Bills reciever corps that has got the job done by committee, with nine players producing more than 250 yards this season and 13 making at least one touchdown catch.
"You have so many players that are doing their job that they can get the job done without you," he added. "So that's kind of where my ego dies and the pride is put aside for the sake of the team."
This lack of ego has not gone unnoticed by his offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who was quick to praise Cooper’s leadership abilities.
"He's part of our group that makes our group kind of who they are, and he's leading it," Brady said. "He doesn't care about the stats right now, and he knows that him being on the field helps our offense."
Cooper will be hoping to contribute however he can on Sunday evening, when the Bills visit the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game looking for the team’s first Super Bowl berth since 1994.
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