Rats, bad plumbing, and no free lunches NFL players' biggest workplace complaints, according to new survey

The report noted that players on both the Cardinals and Bengals complained about the way food and nutrition were handled with their team.

"If players would like dinner, it will be boxed up for them, but players reported that the team will charge you via payroll deduction," said the Cardinals report. "This is apparently the only Club that does this."

Players were also charged for meals that they ate at the facility in the off-season, again being the only team in the NFL to do so.

The Cardinals also finished 32nd in the league in food quality, meaning that the only team in the league charging its players for food with a payroll reduction was also offering some of the worst food.

In Cincinnati, the problem went beyond dinner and to pure nutrition.

"The Bengals are one of three teams that do not provide dinner to their players; they are also one of two teams that do not provide vitamins, and they are the only team that doesn't provide supplements," according to the Bengals' report card.

With the size and calorie intake of professional football players, team facilities being equipped with quality bathrooms is a must.

But in Cincinnati, the limits were apparently sometimes pushed.

"Players feel that they have some of the smallest hot/cold tubs in the league; they have issues with the showers and toilets not consistently working," according to the report.

Yikes!

The Jacksonville Jaguars could have used an actual jaguar in the locker room this season, or any kind of cat really, because the team reportedly had a rat problem.

"As one of the worst ranked franchises in the league, there was no shortage of complaints shared by the player respondents," read the report. "When asked what the number one thing they want changed at their facility, the answer was unanimous – get rid of the rats!"

It was unanimous! That said, if you've ever had a rat problem, you'd understand why.

"Players reported that for 3-4 weeks this season, there was a rat infestation in the locker room and laundry hampers."

One saving grace for the Jaguars — players seem to believe in team owner Shahid Khan's commitment to improvement, with 95% of players expressing confidence that he is "willing to invest to make the necessary changes."

You'd be forgiven for thinking everything was going smoothly in Kansas City, now winners of two of the past four Super Bowls.

But the Chiefs ranked just 29th out of 32 teams in the NFL, according to the report.

Particular issue was raised with head trainer Rick Burkholder. Respondents expressed opinions regarding the trainer, including feeling discouraged from reporting their injuries and fearing retribution for speaking up for better care.

General comfort was also an issue for the Chiefs, who are one of six teams in the league who still have some players placed with roommates during road games. According to the report, less than 50% of players feel they have enough room to be comfortable on flights.

The Baltimore Ravens rated good-to-average through most of the report, save for one section: strength staff.

The Ravens received a grade of F- regarding their strength staff. Out of the 32 teams in the NFL, 27 gave their strength staff at least an A- and just two — the Ravens and Falcons — received less than a B+.

Luckily for Baltimore players, the problem has already been dealt with.

"At the core of these issues is the team's former head strength coach, Steve Saunders (recently parted ways with); assessment of him by player respondents was markedly negative," the report reads. "Only 38% of player respondents felt that they receive an individualized plan for their strength training, and many complained that the training room is understaffed."

One of the most common complaints throughout the NFLPA's report came from players whose team flights kept players out of first class seats.

According to the report, seven teams in the league do not offer first class seats to their players, with the Colts' report noting that those seats are reserved for coaches and staff instead.

While the politics of which players would get to enjoy first class seats and which players are stuck in coach might be complicated to navigate at first, it feels like one worth stepping into for franchises looking to get on their players' good side.

Teams without first class seats got it mentioned in their reports, and teams with plenty of first class seats got shouted out as well — both the Raiders and the Texans got an A+ in the travel category.

Surprising no one, the Washington Commanders finished 32nd out of 32 teams in the NFL.

Outside of the team's strength staff, which received an A+, no segment of the eight topics polled in the survey received a higher grade than a C+. They received three F- grades, more than any other team in the league.

Problems run the gamut.

"Players had significantly more concerns with each area of the facility than the player respondents on any other team," the report read. "For example, they were the team most consistently identified as having an understaffed training room."

Players also raised issues with the space available in the team's locker room, and the hot and cold tubs available for players' recovery. Travel was also an issue, with just 22% of players feeling like they have enough room to spread out during road trips.

Making matters worse, the team appears to have a near complete lack of faith in anything improving.

"The locker room does not have confidence that club owner Dan Snyder is willing to invest to upgrade the facilities, as player responses rank him 31st in this category," the report read.