The NFLPA’s report cards, which were released in Indianapolis on Wednesday, prompted much discussion among football fans. And Zach Wilson says goodbye to the Jets.
The NFL Scouting Combine was expected to be a dull day until reporters learned that the NFLPA was about to disclose its most recent club report cards.
There was much for NFL writers to write about in the second annual report, which did not let them down. We’ll quickly review the NFLPA’s findings that caught our attention, which include some somewhat puzzling revelations about the AFC West clubs.
On Wednesday, a few general managers also gave speeches, notably New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas, who gave a highly educational press conference. This is what we discovered in Indianapolis on Wednesday.
NFLPA report card facts for the AFC West
As Albert Breer observed in his brief analysis of the NFLPA’s most recent club report cards, which were made public on Wednesday morning, there was a lot to go through.
To put it mildly, the AFC West teams in particular provided some intriguing insights.
Despite winning consecutive Super Bowls, the Kansas City Chiefs were placed 31st in this year’s poll and their “games won” were not taken into account in their report cards. Four out of the eleven categories were failed by Kansas City, with an F- in the owner category—a new addition to this year’s report cards—among them.
According to NFLPA President JC Tretter, the Chiefs owner Clark Hunt has not shown a “willingness to invest” in the organization, as seen by the report’s conclusions about the locker room amenities.
According to Tretter, the Chiefs players’ main grievance with Hunt has to do with his broken pledges made to upgrade the locker room over the previous year.
Tretter said to reporters at the Indianapolis Convention Center, “The year before they promised them a brand-new locker room.” “After that, the squad won the Super Bowl. Then they returned to the old locker room, which had been updated with new furniture. That was the only remodeling done. They received the response, “You guys went too far in the playoffs.” There wasn’t time for us to rectify it.
“They’ve won the Super Bowl once again. There may be some discontent emanating from that locker room because, in my opinion, nothing is happening to us even if we keep winning Super Bowls. Improving our lives is not prioritized; instead, we continue to increase the organization’s wealth and notoriety.
Further remarks on the Chiefs’ inadequate facilities were made on the NFLPA website:
“The dressing room is the main source of complaints regarding the amenities. In response to last year’s input, the players were given real chairs with backs to sit in at their lockers, but this did not alter the fact that the locker area desperately needed renovations. The players are even more frustrated because the management informed them that improvements will take place following the 2022 season. The players found the team never completed the promised makeover [except adding seats] when they returned to their facilities for the 23–24 season after going on to win the Super Bowl.
Nonetheless, the Chiefs received an A+ in the head coach category. According to the NFLPA, Reid was the highest-rated head coach in the league; the only other coaches to achieve an A+ rating in the new category were Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings and Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions.
Josh McDaniels, the former coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, scored the lowest out of all the report cards in the head coach category with a D. (The poll was conducted during his tenure as head coach.) The Raiders’ overall rating suffered as a result of the low grade, which saw them fall to ninth place out of 32 teams.
The NFLPA’s summary of the Raiders states that “the Las Vegas Raiders’ facilities rate at or near the top of the NFL in nearly every category and remain a great facility for players to work at.” “The players’ perceptions of their former head coach, Josh McDaniels, were directly linked to the club’s shortcomings.”
The club’s overall score was severely lowered by the players’ highly unfavorable evaluation of the former head coach. It is hoped that Antonio Pierce, the recently hired head coach, will improve the workspace on par with the best facilities in Las Vegas.
The Los Angeles Chargers finished 30th overall, but with a new training facility in El Segundo, California, set to open later this year, their standing may improve the following season. That won’t, however, improve the Chargers’ D-grade in the team travel area.
Tretter told reporters, “The Chargers are one team that continues the same issue as last year where they don’t send the truck ahead of time.” You ship all of your equipment, then. Most teams deliver their truck ahead of time, fully equipped. The players must wait on the tarmac for hours on end as they load and unload the truck because they [the Chargers] load it into the team jet.
Conor Orr questioned if Jim Harbaugh’s signing will alter Los Angeles’ cost-effective team travel policies. The organization received a failing grade in the field of family treatment. The Chargers charge their players $50 for each extra child and $75 for one gameday child care.
Regarding the Denver Broncos, they placed 16th overall despite earning acceptable scores in most of the categories. However, the players’ complaints over the several automobiles that were taken from the required team hotel parking lot during training camp were mentioned in the NFLPA’s evaluation of the Broncos.
Zach Wilson gets permission to seek a trade, and Robert Saleh decides to attend the NFL combine
Douglas may not have intended to disclose that Robert Saleh chose to go to the scouting NFL combine this weekend, following rumors that the coach would not be attending at all.
Douglas remarked, “I guess that’s breaking news.”
Saleh is expected in Indianapolis on Saturday and Sunday when offensive linemen are expected to work out on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on the latter day. The Jets will sorely need offensive linemen in 2024 to keep Aaron Rodgers upright, as has been widely reported.
However, Douglas revealed more during his press conference. The general manager disclosed that Zach Wilson was given authorization to pursue a trade. When Rodgers was out in Week 1 of the previous season due to an Achilles injury, the 2021 No. 2 selection performed poorly in 11 starts.
Douglas remarked, “Well, I’ve had good conversations with his agent, Brian Ayrault.” We have granted them authority to discuss a deal with other teams where we are. I plan to follow up with Brian later this week or the next week to see how our talks proceed. There is nothing more to report but that.
Douglas added that edge rusher Bryce Huff, who had 10 sacks in a breakout 2023 season, will not be receiving the franchise tag from the organization.
The Indianapolis Colts pressure Michael Pittman Jr. to sign a long-term contract.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard informed reporters on Wednesday that while the organization is ready to sign wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. with the franchise tag, reaching a long-term contract deal is the team’s first objective.
Ballard remarked, “We’ll work hard to get a deal done.” “I won’t say that we won’t utilize [the franchise tag], but I also won’t declare that we will. Hopefully, we can work out a compromise and reach an understanding on a contract.
The Colts must reach a long-term deal agreement by Tuesday to keep their top wide receiver, or else they will have to use the franchise tag. Pittman had 1,152 yards from 109 catches and 159 targets in the previous campaign.
