The grades are in for the New England Patriots in 2023, and they’re not great. On Wednesday the NFLPA released the results of the second annual Player Team Report Cards, and the Patriots’ report card should leave the team with a lot to think about.
For the second year in a row, the NFLPA surveyed players from each NFL team over the course of the season, in order to get an understanding of how teams are handling different elements of their operation. Here’s the methodology from the NFLPA website…
“In 2023, the NFLPA worked with Statler Nagle and research experts at Artemis Strategy Group to further enhance the survey process and provide third-party perspective.
The survey was administered from August 26 to November 16, 2023. Artemis Strategy Group conducted the census survey online and provided access to every player on a 2023 NFL roster at the time of the survey. A total of 1,706 players completed the survey this year.
Answers were collected anonymously, and players evaluated their current workplace based on their club experience. The survey included both closed-ended and optional open-ended questions. Grades are calculated based on player responses to a series of survey rating questions in 11 categories. Each category grade is based primarily on scores from scaled rating questions. Grades also reflect additional details about workplace conditions, such as the quality of club offerings. Teams are ranked within each category and overall on the basis of their scores. Each team’s overall score is based on a weighted combination of grades for each of the 11 categories.
The overview section for each club’s “report card” and commentary accompanying each category ranking reflects player respondents’ opinions about the state of each club’s workplace. We note that the information collected from this survey reflects only the opinions of the 2023 players on each club roster who completed the survey.”
The Patriots finished ranked 29th of 32 teams on this year’s report cards. That’s down from ranking 24th last year.
“The New England Patriots finish the year ranked 29th in the team surveys,” the NFLPA’s overview of the Patriots’ results reads. “The results point to club management that has not been keeping up with changing times; as in most categories, the player responses highlight outdated facilities and stale services.”
In what areas in particular did the Patriots struggle? Here’s a look at the breakdown of the Patriots report card. The full report can be found here.
Treatment of families: F- (T-29th of 32 teams)
Oct 2, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A New England Patriots helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The survey notes that the Patriots are one of 12 teams that do not provide a family room during games, one of seven teams that do not provide daycare support for players’ children on gameday, and one of only four teams that do not offer either a family room or daycare.
Food/cafeteria: B- (T-14th)
Sep 13, 2020; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; A detailed view of the Gillette Stadium sign before a game between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
According to the survey, the Patriots ranked 16th in overall food taste and freshness. They are one of 30 teams to provide three meals a day throughout the week.
Nutritionist/dietician: B- (T-18th)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 24: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots stands in the huddle in the first half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 24, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
According to the survey, 80 percent of Patriots players feel like they get an individualized nutrition plan. That ranks 21st in the NFL.
Locker room: C- (T-20th)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 10: Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the New England Patriots walks through the tunnel before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The survey showed that while 93 percent of Patriots players feel like they have enough space in their individual lockers, only 77 percent believe the locker room itself is big enough. The Patriots’ current locker room was done as a rebuild ahead of the 2018 season.
Training room: C (T-22)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 10: A view outside of Gillette Stadium between the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots on September 10, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Based on the survey, 80 percent of the team’s players felt the team had enough full-time trainers (that percentage ranked 26th overall in the league) and physical therapist (22nd). The reported added that “a number of players report outdated treatment options and that the training room lacks the equipment that players feel should be standard across the league” and that “some players suggest additional staff, more tables and updates to the room would help meet the team’s needs for training services.”
Training staff: B- (T-21st)
Dec 3, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) is helped off the field as they take on the Los Angeles Chargers in the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
83 percent of players responding to the survey said they felt like they got enough one-on-one treatment. That ranked 23rd in the NFL. The Patriots ranked 15th in the league in players who felt the training staff contributed to their success.
Weight room: F (T-31st)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 11: A view of New England Patriots helmets on the bench during the preseason game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 11, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Patriots ranked at the bottom of the league for their weight room, with players saying the quality and size of the room are both unsatisfactory. In fact, the Patriots were the only team in the NFL where a majority of players said they feel that their team’s facility is worse than places they could train offsite. The Patriots reportedly in the process of redoing their current weight room.
Strength coaches: C- (31st)
Moses Cabrera of the New England Patriots poses for his NFL headshot circa 2011 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)
65 percent of Patriots players aid they feel as though they get an individualized strength plan, which ranked 31st in the NFL. The Patriots will have a new head strength and conditioning coach in 2024, with Deron Mayo (who was an assistant S&C coach last year) replacing Moses Cabrera.
Team travel: D (T-23rd)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 02: The New England Patriots plane on April 02, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
73 percent of Patriots players felt like they had enough personal space when traveling. The Patriots are one of 25 teams that don’t make players have roommates when staying at hotels.
Head coach: B- (T-26th)
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 12: Bill Belichick, Head Coach of the New England Patriots, looks on during the NFL match between Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots at Deutsche Bank Park on November 12, 2023 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Bill Belichick ranked 26th overall, but 31st in players saying they felt he was efficient with their time (55 percent) and willing to listen to the locker room. Only Josh McDaniels of the Raiders ranked lower in those categories.
Owner: D+ (27th)
Jan 11, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft holds a press conference at Gillette Stadium to answer questions about former head coach Bill Belichick’s (not pictured) exit from the team. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Robert Kraft received a 6.9 out of 10 from Patriots players when players were asked to grade his willingness to invest in the team facilities. Given some of the other facility grades (locker room, childcare), this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
