The NFLPA is handing out report cards now, the Chiefs' grade is 29th in the NFL

[Quesadilla Joe]

Link:https://nflpa.com/kansas-city-chiefs-report-card
Link: https://nflpa.com/nfl-player-team-report-cards

Spoiler!

One of our core jobs as a union is to improve the overall working conditions for our players, which includes the daily experience of players at the team facilities away from the lights and cameras.

1,300 of our players provided information to share with one another about their current club, to not only help them make important career decisions, but also help raise standards across the league.

Our goals were to highlight positive clubs, identify areas that could use improvement, and highlight best practices and standards. To learn more about the background of this initiative, read a note from President JC Tretter here: https://nflpa.com/posts/nfl-team-rep...by-the-players

The unformatted Chiefs' report card, if you don't want to click the link https://nflpa.com/kansas-city-chiefs-report-card:

Spoiler!

Overview

The Kansas City Chiefs are ranked 29th overall in our team guide. In general, the results show that the facility feels outdated and players would like to see upgrades across the board. Only 56% of respondents believe that club owner Clark Hunt is willing to invest the money to upgrade the facility, ranking him 27th in this category.

Players’ responses showed that treatment of players also falls well below other clubs across the NFL. For example, the Chiefs are one of 6 teams that still make certain players have roommates, and less than 50% of players feel they have enough room to be comfortable on flights.

Feedback on the training room was also notable; player respondents called for a more welcoming environment, and several players had negative opinions about head trainer Rick Burkholder, feeling that he does not treat players fairly and consistently, or with personal care.

Breakdown of Key Categories

Treatment of Families:
B
Tied for 12th

Support of Players' Families: Ranked 16th

They offer a family room
They are one of 11 teams that do not offer daycare

Post-Game Gathering Area: Ranked 13th

Food Service / Nutrition
D+
TIED FOR 18th

Quality of food: Ranked 15th

All three meals provided

Only 50% of players say there is enough room in the cafeteria.

Weight Room
C+
TIED FOR 22nd

The weight room is seen as slightly below average compared to the other teams. Players would like it to be updated with more and newer equipment.

97% feel they have enough strength coaches

Strength Coaches
A-
TIED FOR 17th

When asked about “Strength Coaches adding to their success” they ranked 17th in the NFL. 17th sounds average but that is because most teams rated their strength coaches positively. The Chiefs players gave overall high marks to the strength staff which is why the overall grade is still high.

94% of players believe they receive an individual plan (17th)

Training Room
D+
TIED FOR 24th
Staffing

77% feel they have enough ATCs (4th worst in the league)
61% feel they have enough PTs (4th worst in the league)

Steam Room/Sauna

There is a steam room (91% feel it is big enough)
There is a sauna (91% feel it is big enough)

Tubs

78% of players feel they have enough hot tub space
81% of players feel they have enough cold tub space

Training Staff
D-
32nd
Rated the lowest among training staffs across the NFL.

Responses to the survey called for things like “a more welcoming environment.”

With the lowest rating and concerning qualitative responses, we learned that players’ key concerns are with head trainer Rick Burkholder (not the rest of the training staff, which is generally well liked).
Player respondents expressed beliefs/opinions that:
They feel discouraged from reporting their injuries
They do not feel they get the level of personal care that they should
They fear retribution for speaking up for better care

Locker Room
D-
TIED FOR 28th
73% of players feel like they have enough personal space.

The lockers are old and in desperate need of a renovation.
Many players complain that they want to have a chair at their locker instead of a stool so they can lean back when sitting.

Team Travel
F
TIED FOR 28th

59% of players feel like they have enough room to spread out
One of 6 teams that makes young players have roommates
Very few first-class seats

[Megatron96]

They aren't stuffed into some 727 or MD-88.

A Boeing 777 is one of the most technologically advanced commercial passenger aircraft flying. Here's a pic of typical business class seating:


And it's huge, i'ts not like the team would have to sit crammed in next to each other. They could easily sit with a seat or two between each person.

Short of Hunt actually buying a 777 and having a custom interior put in, you can't really have it any better.

And before anyone starts with the idea of Clark buying such an aircraft, they start at about $250,000,000, before you start customizing it. Or they did before COVID. might need to tack another 25-35% or more onto that these days. Then whatever it costs to put in 1st-class type seating throughout. 10-20 million there? Then what it costs to operate, which would be, well probably $250,000 per flight? Thing burns like 3200 gallons of fuel per hour in cruise. Without breaking out a calculator, that's around $12000/hr just in fuel burn. Plus, pilots, attendants, insurance, maintenance, etc.

[Rainbarrel]

If the Bills face anymore adversity. They start folding and abandoning posts

[jettio]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Finally read the article or whatever it is.

So, there's no daycare. I mean, they're millionaires. They can't be bothered to hire their own nannies?

So, it's not the food that's the problem in the cafeteria, it's the fact that the room itself isn't big enough somehow. I mean, I don't know what they can do about that.

It's not that the locker room isn't nice enough; it's that the players would rather they had a chair not a stool to sit on. Fine, get some chairs.

The "not enough room in the plane" thing is dumb. It's literally an aluminum tube flying at 400+ mph. Just how large should it be? Maybe some of the players would rather sit out on the wing or something so they can stretch out . . . maybe they could give them the illusion of a more open feel by making the thing convertible.

NFLPA wanted to make a point about shared hotel rooms for rookies and knew the Chiefs did that so they included some bullshit about the plane so that the F grade was not just about shared hotel rooms even though that was the reason for the F.

[neech]

The plane the Chiefs players were flying in on the State Farm commercial with Andy Reid seemed real nice.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Frazod

This surprised me, and if true it's a legitimate complaint. I just assumed they used a plane that had first class seats throughout. Most of these guys are pretty big, either wide and/or tall. Being crammed into a regular sized plane seat must be awful for them. Especially flying back from a game where they just got physically beat up for several hours. Seems like the team/league could and should do better in this department.

I'm 6'2" and I'm squished in those main cabin seats.

[FloridaMan88]

Suck it (anonymous) Rick Burkholder haters…

Congratulations are in order for our Head Athletic Trainer and VP of Sports Medicine & Performance, Rick Burkholder, on his induction into the National Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame! 👏 pic.twitter.com/oyJDWfZJSO

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 23, 2023

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Why do NFL teams need to provide daycare again? They’re your employee, not your ****ing caretakers.

Good God man. The lowest paid players on teams make 750k. After taxes that’s roughly 472k. Bro you make 39k a month and your ass can’t find a good daycare for your kids? Wut?

The strength room doesn’t need to be all out. And why would it be? Most of the time spent using a weight room for the players is in the off-season away from the facility. They use it like 1 time from February to training camp unless you want to stay there.

And tbh nobody on a team gives a shit about lower level players nutrition. Sure they have good shit like smoothies, cafeteria stuff etc but any player worth anything has their own chef making them breakfast and dinner. Why would teams care?

Lot of entitlement around the league for guys making that much money.

That reduction of income after taxes is depressing. Good grief.

But you are right, daycare isn't a NFL responsibility.

[Tylerthigpen!1!]

Originally Posted by MarkDavis'Haircut

That reduction of income after taxes is depressing. Good grief.

But you are right, daycare isn't a NFL responsibility.

Its not, but these guys are giving their lives to nfl. they deserve to see their kids as much as possible.