INDIANAPOLIS — Stephen Ross has truly built a first-in-class franchise.
The Miami Dolphins got straight A’s in the 2024 NFL Player Team Report Card, with Ross getting the highest marks of any owner.
Miami Dolphins Receive High Marks in Players Record Card
“The Miami Dolphins are the top-ranked team in our 2024 Report Card,” the NFLPA wrote.
“Club owner Stephen Ross is the highest-graded club owner in our survey, receiving a near perfect score. The club owner’s ranking reflects the strong performance in key areas that players care about, including the quality of their facilities, the comfort of players’ travel, and the quality and quantity of staff across multiple categories.
“The state-of-the-art facilities continue to impress, but more importantly, are complemented by the number of quality trainers, strength coaches and other support staff who help make the workplace experience one of the best across the league.”
Here are the Dolphins’ grades and rankings for each of the 11 categories, as voted upon by the players:
- Treatment of families: A- (third)
- Food/cafeteria: A (first)
- Nutritionist/Dietician: A (first)
- Locker rooms: A (first)
- Training room: A (first)
- Training staff: A- (first)
- Weight room: A+ (first)
- Strength coaches: A (second)
- Team travel: A (first)
- Head coach: A (eighth)
- Ownership: A (first)
These grades will absolutely give the franchise a leg up in player recruitment when NFL free agency opens in two weeks.
While money is most players’ No. 1 priority, a team’s reputation can be a tiebreaker for free agents on the fence about where to sign.
Among the report’s findings:
- Ross earned a 9.9 out of 10 rating when considering his willingness to invest in the facilities.
- 94% of respondents said that Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is efficient with their time, and he had the second-highest grade in terms of willingness to listen to the locker room.
- The Dolphins rank first overall in food taste and second in food freshness.
- Dolphins players give their team dietician the second-highest individual grade of any NFL dietician.
- Dolphins players with near-unanimity feel like Miami’s locker room is big enough, and more than nine in 10 feel like they have enough room in their individual lockers.
- Head trainer Kyle Johnston earned the third-highest individual score in the league.
- Players are more than satisfied with the size and quality of the weight room, and Dave Puloka received the highest individual grade.
- The Dolphins provide a family room at the stadium and daycare on game day.
“He doesn’t get enough credit, but Steve’s vision and his willingness to invest private money into this thing,” Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel said last week at the team’s one-of-a-kind stadium, which is also used for Formula One racing and world-class tennis.
“He really cares about Miami, and he really cares about doing things first class, and he wants to win more than anybody in this organization. But he gives us the autonomy and the resources to do big things, and he supports us, and we couldn’t have a better owner. None of this is possible without him.”
UPDATED (Feb. 29): Ross released the following statement Thursday:
Statement from Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross on the Dolphins’ straight-A franchise report card, as voted upon by the players. pic.twitter.com/BbIbTNezby
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) February 29, 2024
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