The Arizona Cardinals charged players for plates of food
The Arizona Cardinals flunked all-around last season. After making the playoffs following the 2021 season, the Cardinals fell to a dismal 4-13 record last season. The Cardinals were sloppy on the field, leading to Kliff Kingsbury’s ouster. A recent report shows that the players have frustrations with management, highlighted by a policy that makes players pay for meals.
The NFLPA published results of a player survey for each club. Every team was graded on these categories: treatment of families, food service/nutrition, weight room, strength coaches, training room, training staff, locker room and team travel.
Overall, the Cardinals received dismal scores:
“The Arizona Cardinals rank second to last in their overall score among the 32 NFL clubs. The locker room does not have confidence that owner Michael Bidwill is willing to invest to upgrade the facilities, as he ranks the lowest in that category across the league. The responses that provide the bases for that characterization include: the worst-ranked weight room, which some players feel is a safety hazard; an outdated training room and locker room; and a policy of deducting dinner from players’ paychecks should players want to get food from the facility."
Charged for bad food
According to the survey, the Cardinals ranked 32nd for their quality of food. Only 69 percent of their athletes felt there was enough food at the facility. In addition to quality problems, the Cardinals are the only NFL team that charges players for meals:
“If players would like dinner, it will be boxed up for them, but players reported that the team will charge you via payroll deduction. This is apparently the only Club that does this.
Players reported that if you work out at the facility after the season is over, the team charges you for every meal eaten at the facility (again, apparently the only team in the league that does this).”
That certainly can’t help team morale. We’ll see if team owner Michael Bidwell makes some changes in the wake of the survey’s results.
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