My first thought was that any player who doesn't share this commitment doesn't belong in the NFL.
Championships are what it's supposed to be all about. Players on a team compete because they want to prove their team is the best. Personal goals are secondary and if they are not then get that player off the team.
Then I ran it through something I call the "hypocrite test". What would I do under the same circumstances?
I realize that the money that can be earned makes this much tougher than in the past. I mean, if you had the choice, would you rather have an NFL championship making 800K a season or no championship while making 10mil a season? As fans, we wish every player would choose the championship but, c'mon, would the majority of "fans" if they had the choice?
So, this is another "dynamic" of NFL football that has changed how fans regard the NFL, the players and themselves. I realize I've struggled with this myself in regards to how I interpret statements and opinions of others. It's important that I acknowledge how perspectives have changed as a result of an evolving NFL.
Free agency, salary structures and rule changes were deemed necessary by both law and social pressures and it would be difficult to argue against attempts at equity, fairness and accountability for health issues. However, they did not come without some type of sacrifice and part of that is the level of commitment to winning and a "team first" attitude.
I also wonder sometimes if players truly understood how blessed they are. There are very few NFL players that weren't born with top tier physical gifts that they combined with hard work and dedication to make it to the league. They were also fortunate to find the mentors who inspired them, whether that be a coach or some family member or even a member of their community.