F- Grades and How the Cincinnati Bengals Scored So Awfully on NFLPA Report Cards

INDIANAPOLIS — For the second year in a row, Cincinnati Bengals players have blistered the organization in the NFL Player Association’s annual poll.

Cincinnati Bengals Receiving Failing Grades in NFLPA Survey

More than 1,700 players shared information about their current team “to not only help them make important career decisions, but also help raise standards across the league,” according to the NFLPA.

The participation was up by more than 400 players from last year. Their feedback is broken into 11 categories, and the Bengals rank 32nd of 32 teams in three of them: treatment of families, food/cafeteria, and nutritionist/dietician.

They received a grade of F- in each case.

Treatment of Families

The treatment of families issue was a big point last year, with players criticizing the team for not having a warm and safe family room as most teams do, while also reporting that their wives have sat on public restroom floors to nurse their babies.

Those were among the top complaints again this year. Per the report, the Bengals are one of 12 teams that don’t provide a family room at the stadium.

Cincinnati is also one of seven teams that don’t provide daycare support for players’ children on game day. They are one of only four teams that don’t offer either a family room or daycare.

Another sticking point this year was the friends and family meeting space after the game, which is a tent in the parking lot. Bengals players also criticized the organization for not having a clear point of contact for family members to reach out to with concerns or questions.

Food/Cafeteria

The players admitted there had been improvement from last year but barely. The big sticking point last year was the team did not offer dinner to the players. Cincinnati changed that in 2023 and offered dinner one day a week, on Wednesdays.

The Bengals are one of only two teams that do not provide three meals a day every day.

They rank 30th in overall food taste and 31st in food freshness. They don’t open the cafeteria on players’ off days, even when players are coming in for extra work.

Nutritionist/Dietician

The F- for nutritionist/dietician was based on the fact that only 19% of Bengals feel as though they receive an individualized plan, which ranks 32nd. Unlike almost every other team in the league, the Bengals don’t employ a full-time dietician.

Not mentioned in the report but telling given the grades above is that many players employ their own dieticians and have prepared meals delivered to them daily rather than eating the team-provided fare.

Locker Room

The Bengals received a D+ despite 87% of the players saying it was big enough.

The bigger issue was that “half the showers in their locker room don’t function properly, lacking either warm water or sufficient water pressure.” They also mention persistent plumbing issues, leaving them with only five functioning toilets for the entire team.

Training Room

The Bengals received a B+ and ranked 10th. The training room is currently being expanded into what was formerly a team meeting room, and seeing that progress no doubt led to the higher grade.

Last year, the Bengals gave the team a D- for the training room.

• 95% of players feel they have enough full-time trainers (fifth overall)
• 83% of players feel they have enough full-time physical therapists (19th overall)
• 97% of players feel they have enough hot tub space (eighth overall)
• 94% of players feel they have enough cold tub space (10th overall)

Training Staff

Another B+ for Matt Summers, Nick Cosgray, and the personnel in the training room, as 95% of the players said they feel as though they receive enough 1-on-1 treatment, ranking second in the league.

Weight Room

In terms of satisfaction with the equipment, the Bengals ranked 14th. On the topic of weight room space, Cincinnati ranked ninth.

Strength Coaches

Joey Boese and Todd Hunt earned a grade of A- and ranked ninth in the league. On the topic of whether the strength coaches significantly contribute to player success, the Bengals ranked seventh.

Team Travel

The Bengals ranked 20th overall. In terms of having enough personal space during flights, they ranked 16th.

Head Coach

Zac Taylor earned an A, with 98% of players saying he is efficient with their time (ranked third). Taylor ranked 10th when it came to players feeling as though he is willing to listen to the locker room.

Ownership

Team owner Mike Brown received a 7.7 out of 10 from Bengals players. As for his willingness to invest in the facilities, he ranked 25th.

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Overall, the Bengals ranked 26th, which is up one spot from last year.

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