The players gave the Carolina Panthers high marks in some areas, but very poor marks in others.
The NFL Player’s Association released their annual team report cards, and the Carolina Panthers did not do very well. In total, they ranked 25th out of 32 teams, an eight spot drop from last season. Players were asked to grade their team in 11 areas—treatment of families, food/dining area, nutritionist/dietician, locker room, training room, training staff, weight room, strength coaches, travel, and ownership.
Interestingly, there was a notable dichotomy between the Panthers’ rankings in different areas. They ranked in the top ten in four areas—treatment of families, nutrition, training staff, and strength coaches. They ranked in the bottom six in weight room, travel, and ownership. Ownership received a D-, second worst mark in the league.
The more detailed breakdown of the Panthers says that the poor travel grade is a result of the new coaching staff moving the players to coach seating from first class where they had been previously. Hopefully that’s an east fix.
The ownership received the poorest mark of anything in the Panthers survey results. The players did not feel that owner David Tepper was committed to building a winning team and only slightly contributed to a positive team culture. One of the defining problems players have with ownership is the refusal to go back to a grass field. The players hate the turf, and the team seems completely uninterested in taking those concerns to heart.
It’s disappointing but not surprising to see the Panthers ranked so low. They haven’t exactly been a model franchise in recent years. Hopefully this survey accomplishes its mission of providing actionable feedback to teams to guide them on improving their circumstances. David Tepper in particular needs to reflect on why his players would think so poorly of him and listen to the feedback they’re providing. Please just go back to a grass field. Literally no one likes the turf.
If you’re wondering who ranked as the best and worst, the Dolphins took the crown as the best run team in the league. They got either an A or A+ in all 11 of the categories. Rounding out the top three were the Vikings and Falcons.
At the bottom of the league were the Cardinals, who I think have been at or near the bottom every year the NFLPA has done this. Their head coach is the only aspect of the organization the players think is up to standard. The Patriots ranked 31st while the Browns ranked 30th. Who would’ve ever thought that the Browns would be a more desirable place to play than New England.
Other interesting tidbits that are not Panthers related:
- Doug Pederson and Matt Eberflus were the worst graded coaches, and both were unsurprisingly fired between the time the survey was given and the results were published
- After being one of the more mocked hirings last cycle, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn was the highest graded coach by his players
- The Jets’ ownership received an F, the worst grade in the league, with the players feeling like ownership responded to last year’s concerns by spitefully making things worse
- The Patriots have their own team plane, but apparently it doesn’t have Wi-Fi but does have ashtrays in the seats
- Cowboys players consistently said the best thing about the organization was head coach Mike McCarthy, and the Cowboys just let him walk to hire Brian Schottenheimer