So yes, they are physical specimens playing football at the highest level, but in NFL years, they are also qualified to sit on the front-porch rocking chair and reflect on experiences of days gone by, passing along the wisdom they've gathered to the next generation.
According to 37-year-old linebacker Chad Brown, who was with the Patriots for training camp and four games this season but is now a free agent, the Patriots have "all the tools to handle the experience."
"Look at a guy like Junior Seau, who has had a fantastic 18-year career and has played in a Super Bowl and lost - do you think he's going to get a big head at this point?" asked Brown. "Guys that have been there and experienced that, they're not going to get ahead of themselves. I could see that happening with a younger guy, but the older guys in that room can help avoid that situation.
"When you've been so close, and seen it all crumble in front of you, it will give you some perspective that no other situation will."
The 38-year-old Seau might be the shining example of the perspective that permeates the Patriots' locker room, but he's far from the only one.
Wide receiver Randy Moss, 30, was part of a 15-1 season as a rookie with the Vikings in 1998, but that team lost to the Falcons in the NFC title game.
Eighth-year linebacker Adalius Thomas, 30, won a Super Bowl as a rookie with the Ravens in 2000, but a fresher memory is last year's 13-3 season that ended with a thud, a loss to the Colts in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Tight end Kyle Brady, 34, played for the Jets in 1998 when they lost in the AFC Championship game, and then for the Jaguars the following season, also losing in the title game.
Add in the majority of players on the roster who experienced last year's heartbreaking 38-34 loss to the Colts in the AFC title tilt - many of whom also won Super Bowls with the team - and the picture starts to become a bit clearer.
So when asked how they will stay focused as the NFL's spotlight puts a microscope on their pursuit of perfection - 9-0 with seven games remaining - they can simply draw from experience to avoid getting swept up in the storm.
