FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (WHDH) -- Come early, stay late. Team above self, or else.

The New England Patriots’ philosophy, the Patriot Way, is a way of life.

“We always talk about if you want to be a good football team you’ll never be stuck in rush-hour traffic,” said Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo.

It’s not about being a player, but also a person. The philosophy starts at the top with ownership and the Kraft family and extends through every corner of the organization.

“The first thing that comes to your mind is you can’t be selfish playing here. It’s not about you. It’s team. If you buy into that you’ll be very successful,” said New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.

The Patriots’ formula is championship tested, Lombardi Trophy approved. So much so that it has become a tradition passed on from year to year and player to player.

“I learned a long time ago when Tedy Bruschi, [Steve] Raible, Willie McGinest, Rodney Harrison, [Richard] Seymour. I learned from some of the best that played around here,” said Wilfork.

Everybody learns no exceptions. Even the Patriots oldest and longest tenured player took his turn.

“I was one of those guys that had to learn that too. When Tedy Bruschi took me aside and Willie McGinest took me aside and Lawyer Milloy took me aside, and I think that’s part of the responsibility as a veteran player that you learn from these experiences and you try to convey the message to some of the younger players so they don’t have to learn the hard way,” said quarterback Tom Brady.

There is only one way. The message is simple and it’s been the same since Bill Belichick took the reins.

“I think coach always talks about doing your job so that’s -- you do your job so that everyone around you can do their job. When people trust each other then you can play with anticipation and confidence,” said Brady.

The Patriot Way may not be the most exciting kind of football, but it’s hard to argue with winning. Especially with a franchise that, with a win on Sunday, will tie the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers with most Super Bowl appearances in NFL history.