Anonymous NFL Survey Reveals Shocking Details of Team Facilities Across the League: ‘50% of the Showers Don’t Work’
Miami Dolphins/AP
A new NFL players survey revealed some alarming shortcomings that one wouldn’t expect to see from multibillion dollar teams within the world’s most valuable league.
The NFL Players Association on Wednesday released this year’s Team Report Cards. More than 1,700 players anonymously submitted their opinions on various aspects of their teams. Ranging from ownership and coaching to team facilities and treatment of families, the report cards assigned letter grades based on the positive and negative feedback.
The highest-graded team in the league was the Miami Dolphins, which received straight A’s across the board. Miami ranked first in the league in Food/Cafeteria, Training Room, Training Staff, Weight Room, Team Travel, and Ownership.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Washington Commanders were the worst-graded team in the NFL. Among the most pressing concerns for players were the organization’s treatment of families and the locker room. According to the survey, just 19% of players feel the locker room is big enough. Players also mentioned multiple sewage leaks throughout the season. Additionally, the team doesn’t have a family room during games or daycare services for players on gameday. The Commanders are just one of four teams without either.
The Cincinnati Bengals, despite being ranked 26th out of the 32 teams, came dead last in several areas. At the team facility, the Bengals provide three meals to players every Wednesday. They’re one of just two teams in the team that don’t do it throughout the week. The team’s dietician also received the lowest grade of any in the league, with just 19% of players saying they received an individualized plan.
The locker room in Cincinnati is also an issue.
“Approximately 50% of the showers don’t work,” the report said. “They either don’t provide warm water or there isn’t enough water pressure. They face consistent plumbing issues that limit the amount of functioning toilets the players can use.”
One of the most surprising teams on the report was the two-time reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs, which ranks 31st. According to players, the dietician is rarely present. The training staff is also among the worst in the league, with players claiming the staff “only slightly” contributes to their success. Team owner Clark Hunt was rated as the worst in the league for his supposed unwillingness to invest in team facilities. In fact, the locker room just got chairs this past season.
