This chapter reconciles the apparent disparity of opinion over whether or not athletes have elevated needs for dietary protein. Protein intake might be considered an “optimum protein intake” based more on maintenance/gain of the functional capacity of tissues such as muscle and maintenance of tissues like bone, ligaments, and tendons. A central tenet of this argument is that tissues such as muscle, bone, tendon, and ligaments may not be fully accounted for in short‐term measures of nitrogen balance owing to their much slower rates of protein turnover by comparison to gut or plasma proteins. The result is that short‐term nitrogen balance, and even indicator amino acid experiments, are dominated by rapidly turning‐over tissues. Finally, an important point for the athlete and the coach is what intakes of protein might become “excessive” and a potential risk for compromising health or athletic performance.