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NFL Team Plane Receives 'F' In Anonymous Player Survey

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Feb 26, 2025 4:10 PM ET

The New England Patriots will spend the offseason attempting to upgrade their roster. Based on player feedback, they may also have to improve their team airplane.

The NFL Players Association released its annual player report cards on Wednesday. New England ranked 31st out of all NFL teams, only placing ahead of the Arizona Cardinals in its overall grade.

Along with getting dinged for the league's worst-graded weight room, the Patriots also drew an "F" for team travel. The NFLPA's overview summarized the players' critiques.

"Team travel remains a significant concern—only 39% of players feel they have comfortable amount of space on flights when traveling to games," the report card said. "The plane is dated – it lacks Wi-Fi and still has ashtrays in the seats."

New England's F somehow wasn't the report card's worst travel grade. The Philadelphia Eagles also received an F for travel, and the Buffalo Bills got an F-.

"Last year the players were frustrated that they are made to sit in the smaller seats during travel while the coaches and auxiliary staff sit in first class," Buffalo's report card said. "The players' dissatisfaction with this issue has grown, with 65% of players saying they have insufficient space or discomfort when traveling to away games, up from 55% last year."

The Patriots finished in the bottom half of all 11 categories. Their training room drew a C-, and owner Robert Kraft garnered a D rating.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 15: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft looks on prior to a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)Chris Unger/Getty Images

The NFLPA nevertheless noted some progress. New England's treatment of players' families improved from an F- to a C+. The team responded to last year's report card by hiring a staffer to manage family relations and adding a family room with daycare during games.

Kraft also revealed a $50 million investment in a new facility expected to open in 2026. That will hopefully solve concerns over a "cramped weight room" and "outdated locker rooms" inside the current building.

While the Patriots have often outclassed the Miami Dolphins on the field during the 21st century, their AFC East foe fared far better in the player survey. The Dolphins scored straight As with the No. 1 ranking for their food, training room, training staff, weight room, strength coaches, ownership, and travel.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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