This is very true, and it can work both ways, depending on the situation. In some cases, loyalty may put players at odds with placing themselves in the most challenging and competitive situations. On the other hand, loyalty and commitment to a team and the other people who make it up can help to bring out the best in players; when they know the system and the expectations and actually care about the success of everyone involved, it often helps them to tap into that extra ounce of effort that can make a significant positive difference in how they perform on the field. "Heart" is one of those intangibles that it's almost impossible to quantify or predict, but it can have visible effects on player and team success.
