The New York Jets are preparing for a marathon of up to 21 games, and they won't be out-prepared by their AFC counterparts.
That mentality has found its way to training camp, where multiple Jets - including Canton-bound quarterback Aaron Rodgers - admitted practices were tougher than ever before.
While no one on New York's roster needs to be introduced to hard work, some may be a little more used to the grueling grind between game days, particularly former Alabama products Quinnen Williams and C.J. Mosley.
Williams joined Rich Eisen to talk about the Jets' summer so far.
"It's been unbelievable man, I was just talking with C.J. Mosley about it this morning man," Williams said. "Don't it feel like those old Alabama days when there's so much competition, there's so much competitiveness, there's so much talent on the field at one time, and you feel like you're really getting better, you feel like it's iron sharpening iron.
"You feel like you really have to watch film and break down different things to beat a guy at practice. We were just laughing and joking about it the other day, you just see the talent they've got."
Those Alabama practices, obviously, came under the purview of legendary head coach Nick Saban. His success speaks for itself - he retired this offseason as perhaps the greatest coach in college football history.
But there's a reason why (particularly) tough practices aren't all the rage in the NFL. Without the requisite leaders to hold people accountable and expectations to make the work seem worth it, grinding players to dust can lead to catastrophe.
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With a healthy Aaron Rodgers, an elite defense with something to play for, and Super Bowl expectations on the mind, it's easy to see why New York has embraced the challenge head coach Robert Saleh has handed them.
The Jets will get to put their offseason development to the test with a heavyweight clash in Week 1 when they visit the reigning NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.