AFC North: Most surprising takeaways from 2024 NFLPA survey

On Wednesday, the NFL Players Association released its 2024 team report cards, a poll of 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 AFC North team.

Baltimore Ravens: Players have subpar training care

Ravens players graded their training room a C+ and their training staff a B-, supporting the fact that the team's biggest issues center around the quality of care in the training room.

Players reportedly feel that they don't have enough access to one-on-one treatment time to prepare and recover and that the training staff moderately contributes to their success.

Players still think very highly of owner Steve Biscotti and believe he is very willing to make the necessary changes and investments in their facility. However, there have been consistent requests for more physical therapists, more modalities and better-quality equipment and not a lot of action thus far. (Full report)

Cincinnati Bengals: The lack of meals and nutritionist

The Bengals are the only team in the NFL that does not employ a full-time dietician, so only 19 percent of players feel like they get an individualized plan.

They are also the only team that closes their cafeteria on the players' day off, even though many of the players come to the facility on off days for extra preparation and recovery.

The club did begin to provide three meals a day on Wednesdays only this year, but they are one of two teams in the league that don't provide three meals a day each day for the players. 

As a result, players graded the food/cafeteria and nutritionist/dietician an F-. (Full report)

Cleveland Browns: Poor workout conditions

The Browns do not have an actual weight room. Since 2020, the weight room has been situated in the indoor practice field, which takes up 15-20 yards of the already small indoor practice field.

The second major issue is the size of their locker room. It ranks as one of the smallest in the league, and players feel like they don't have an adequate amount of personal space to simply get changed. 

Players think the club is doing just enough to create a passable experience for the players with below-average standards, but not doing nearly enough to create a high-quality workplace environment. So, they handed the weight room a D and the locker room a D+. (Full report)

Pittsburgh Steelers: The lack of confidence in owner Art Rooney II

Club owner Art Rooney II received a rating of 5.8/10 from the Steelers players when considering his willingness to invest in the facilities, which ranks him second to last in this year's report. The team has "little confidence" in him investing in a better workplace, grading him an F.

As a result, players believe the locker room, which received an F, and the weight room, which received a C, could use a lot of work. 

The most common change players would like to see is a locker room renovation, including the replacement of outdated lockers and overall expansion. The Steelers are also one of seven teams whose players feel their weight room is no better than where they could train offsite. (Full report)