Or 'finesse'. These seem like dated terms to me. What makes a team mean or tough? The players, the coaches? The scheme? Are the Titans tough? They can win about 8 or 9 games a year but that's it. What about the Eagles - were they meaner than the Pats when they won the SB? Saw a lot of trick plays there. How about the Chiefs? The current seahawks team - Russel Wilson is tough - their o-line and defense not so much.
Aaron Donald is tough, I think. So is Whitworth. Are they tough guys playing on a soft team?
To me, more important than the perception of toughness is ability and execution. You have those and 'being tough' is pretty meaningless.
