A seven-year veteran, Carolina Panthers safety Kurt Coleman knows what it's like to play in Denver's home stadium.
Coleman has played there twice _ once as an Eagle and once as a Chief _ and has been dispensing advice for Panthers players new to Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.
"I just felt as though you have to constantly drink water," Coleman told the Charlotte Observer this week in between sips from a water bottle. "I've been telling a lot of the guys, and especially what I'm telling myself is, stay hydrated throughout this week so that when I do get out there I feel as though my body is hydrated."
Denver's stadium sits about 5,280 feet above sea level, the highest such stadium in the NFL. Charlotte, by contrast, is about 750 feet above sea level.
The altitude in Denver means thin air, and playing an intense, three-hour football game in thin air can affect players who aren't used to it.
The Panthers have not played a game in the preseason or regular season in Denver since 2004. Thomas Davis, the longest-tenured Panther on the roster, was drafted the following season.
So the Panthers will rely on their training and advice from teammates, such as Coleman, who have played there before.
Coleman likened playing in the altitude to running on a brisk day and getting the feeling of cottonmouth. He said the feeling was more in his head than affecting his actual performance.
Players who run more will be more affected by the air. Running back Jonathan Stewart said he wasn't concerned about the thin air because it's simply part of the deal of playing in Denver.
There's nothing he can do about it but play.
But for the past two years, Stewart has trained occasionally with an altitude mask. The black mask simulates training in a higher altitude.
"What it does for me is it just trains your recovery of breath," said Stewart, who has not been seen using the mask this week. "When you're tired, usually you just need to learn how to regroup. Using the mask last year and coming into this year has definitely helped with going into different plays, whether it's on a long drive or a long run just being able to regroup and go to the next play."
