NFC West: Most surprising takeaways from 2024 NFLPA survey

On Wednesday, the NFL Players Association released its 2024 team report cards, polling 1,706 players regarding their daily experience and working conditions. 

Per the NFLPA website, the annual survey is designed to “highlight positive clubs, identify areas that could use improvement and highlight best practices and standards.” 

Below is the most surprising takeaway from the survey for each NFC West team.

Arizona Cardinals: Players do not like any of the facilities 

Owner Michael Bidwill received an F grade from his players, with the most common complaint being his lack of investment in the team's facilities. Everything relating to the facilities, from the locker rooms, to the training rooms, to the resources player families have on game days ranked near the bottom of the NFL.

The Cardinals received grades of C-minus or worse when it came to the locker room (F), training room (C-minus), weight room (C-minus), food (D) and the treatment of player families (D-plus).

Players seemed happy with the training and coaching staff, but they didn't like their work environment. The Bidwills have been viewed as cheap owners throughout their time running the team, and this survey only confirms that. (Full report).

Los Angeles Rams: The weight room is terrible 

Rams players like head coach Sean McVay, giving him the fourth-highest score (9.63/10) in the league. They also generally like the trainers and staff that work with them. What they dislike, though, is the training facilities and the weight room, saving their most scathing criticism for the latter.

According to the poll, most Rams players believe the weight-training equipment is no better than what they can get at offsite locations. Only five other teams in the league whose weight facilities received a similar complaint. 

Players also rated the food as among the worst in the league, ranking their dietary options 31st out of 32 teams. (Full report).

San Francisco 49ers: The travel situation is not ideal

Overall, the 49ers scored extremely well with their players, finishing 10th in ownership approval and also receiving A grades regarding their treatment of families, their food selection and with head coach Kyle Shanahan.

The only negative mark comes from the travel situation — the 49ers are one of only seven teams that require some players to have roommates in their hotels the night before games. 

Every player having his room is a nice perk that players enjoy on most teams, so, understandably, some players would not like that change when arriving in San Francisco. (Full report)

Seattle Seahawks: Players want a bigger training staff 

The biggest issue Seahawks players had revolved around the size of the team's training staff, which apparently limits the one-on-one attention they get. Only 76% of the players polled believed they received enough one-on-one time (29th in the league). That can play a role in helping players get back from injury faster and recover better. 

Seattle also scored low regarding the training room, where players generally felt they needed more hot tub space, cold tub space or enough physical therapists. 

By comparison, Seahawks players loved what they were getting from the strength coaches (98% of the players believed they received plenty of one-on-one time.) (Full report)