Uwe von Schamann used to sit in on the offense's meetings during his playing days with the Miami Dolphins.
He didn't have to be there — he was a kicker, after all — but he would often find a seat in the back of the room. He'd listen and watch and marvel.
"I was so fascinated by the game and when they were going over plays," he said.
Didn't hurt that the man often at the center of the meetings was Don Shula.
"He was definitely one of the greatest coaches ever to prepare a team," von Schamann said.