The Patriots ranked near the bottom of the NFLPA’s annual survey of working conditions
Even team ownership was given a poor grade.
The latest version of report cards for NFL working conditions are in, and the Patriots aren’t making the honor roll. Robert Kraft might even find himself grounded until further notice.
For each of the past two seasons, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has overseen a survey of its players regarding the quality of the teams in the league. Several categories were measured pertaining to players’ experiences, including the team’s locker room, weight room, food/cafeteria, head coach, and ownership.
The Patriots did poorly in last year’s version, but — in a stark reflection of the times — managed an even worse collection of grades in the most recent results.
Overall, New England ranked 29th out of 32 teams:
- Treatment of Families: F- (30th)
- Food/Cafeteria: B- (15th)
- Nutritionist/Dietician: B- (20th)
- Locker Room: C- (20th)
- Training Room: C (22nd)
- Training Staff: B- (25th)
- Weight Room: F (32nd)
- Strength Coaches: C- (31st)
- Team Travel: D (24th)
- Head Coach: B- (27th)
- Ownership: D+ (27th)
“The results point to club management that has not been keeping up with changing times; as in most categories, the player responses highlight outdated facilities and stale services,” noted an NFLPA overview of the Patriots’ grades.
The survey was conducted by Artemis Strategy Group between Aug. 26 and Nov. 16, 2023. After getting approximately 60-percent of players in the league to respond to last year’s version, NFLPA president J.C. Tretter said that 1,706 players (77 percent) responded to the latest version.
The team’s worst grades came in treatment of families, the weight room, team travel, and ownership.
“The players feel the facility has needed significant renovations for a while now, which explains the low grade for club owner Robert Kraft on the question about players having confidence he will invest in their facilities,” the NFLPA summary explained.
Regarding the treatment of families — in which New England somehow scored a seemingly impossible F- grade — the specific critiques included a lack of both a family room and game-day daycare facilitates.
Notably, given that the survey was taken prior to Bill Belichick’s departure, there is feedback about the now-former New England head coach. He still managed a B- overall (which was actually tied for the best grade the team received), but was docked for two complaints:
- “Only 55% of players feel that former head coach Bill Belichick was efficient with their time.”
- “The players feel that Bill Belichick was rarely willing to listen to the locker room.”
On the topic of the team’s weight room, players were unsparing in their criticism.
“The Patriots are the only team in the NFL with a majority of players feeling that their team’s facility is worse than places they could train offsite,” noted the NFLPA summary.
Already facing a major overhaul of the team’s roster, new head coach Jerod Mayo could now face an uphill battle in recruiting free agents. Part of the purpose of the NFLPA survey, according to Tretter, is to serve as a “free agency guide” for players out of contract.
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