The Minnesota Vikings deal with their gamers finest, in response to a brand new NFL Gamers Affiliation survey, whereas the Washington Commanders have an extended approach to go.
The report, launched on Wednesday through the league’s annual scouting mix, rated groups in eight classes – from meals and diet to coaching and journey – based mostly on nameless responses from about 1,300 gamers.
The Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders have been the highest three groups whereas the underside trio have been the Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders. The Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have been ranked because the fourth-worst staff on the checklist.
“Participant well being and security is our high precedence, and we proceed to spend money on our services, together with a brand new follow area, new turf within the follow bubble and elevated assembly room area,” a spokesperson for the Commanders mentioned. “We all know there’s extra to do, and we often speak with our gamers about methods to enhance their work setting and the expertise for his or her households.”
Outcomes confirmed three groups don’t serve gamers dinner at their services and a type of, the Cincinnati Bengals, doesn’t present dietary supplements or phone-charging plugs in lockers. And final season, the Jacksonville Jaguars handled a rat infestation.
“When requested what the primary factor they need modified at their facility, the reply was unanimous – do away with the rats!” Jacksonville’s report card learn. “Gamers reported that for 3-4 weeks this season, there was a rat infestation within the locker room and laundry hampers.”
NFLPA president JC Tretter insisted the survey isn’t meant to disgrace groups. It’s meant to focus on groups that deal with gamers and those who want to enhance by highlighting the most effective practices and requirements. Then, maybe, groups will try to lift their requirements.
“I believe the suggestions might be pretty clear once they learn the reviews,” Tretter mentioned. “There’s not a lot misplaced in translation.
“There are some actually basic items the place it’s like, ‘This shouldn’t be occurring.’”
Groups have been graded on remedy of households, meals service/diet, weight room, energy coaches, coaching room, coaching workers, locker room and staff journey.
The complete rankings may be discovered on NFLPA.com. Different findings embody:
– Six groups don’t fly gamers in firstclass.
– Seven groups don’t organize for gamers to have roommates on highway journeys.
– Eighteen of 32 groups supply household rooms in stadiums the place households can go together with their youngsters.
– The Philadelphia Eagles supply a stadium household room only for coaches’ wives and kids, not gamers’ wives.
“The explanation we would like this to be reoccurring is subsequent 12 months, there may be no declare of ignorance as a result of we’ve introduced the issue up and it will be much more telling if these points proceed,” Tretter mentioned. “Then that’s a transparent alternative and there’s no declare of ignorance there.
“It’s going to be very clear what the subsequent steps must be. In case you’re unwilling to take these subsequent steps, I believe that tells us rather a lot going into the next 12 months.”
The expectation is for gamers who go away groups to be extra forthright in future surveys.
It was vital to launch the survey outcomes earlier than free company begins, Tretter mentioned, as a result of how groups deal with gamers could possibly be a deciding issue when contemplating two gives.
“Two gives being equal, this may get a participant to say, ‘My state of affairs in Crew X with the identical supply goes to be higher than Crew Y,’” Tretter mentioned.
Not all of the findings are unfavourable. Seven of the highest eights groups rated most effective by their gamers made the playoffs.
Full checklist of groups as rated by gamers
1) Minnesota Vikings2) Miami Dolphins3) Las Vegas Raiders4) Houston Texans5) Dallas Cowboys6) Inexperienced Bay Packers7) San Francisco 49ers8) New York Giants9) Buffalo Bills10) New Orleans Saints11) Seattle Seahawks12) Carolina Panthers13) Chicago Bears14) Philadelphia Eagles15) Detroit Lions16) Indianapolis Colts17) Baltimore Ravens18) Tennessee Titans19) New York Jets20) Denver Broncos21) Cleveland Browns22) Pittsburgh Steelers23) Atlanta Falcons24) New England Patriots25) Los Angeles Rams26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers27) Cincinnati Bengals28) Jacksonville Jaguars29) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs30) Los Angeles Chargers31) Arizona Cardinals32) Washington Commanders
