Colts graded as an average franchise with serious flaws in latest NFLPA players survey

In a recent NFLPA survey, players were asked to grade franchises in various categories. The final grades show that the Indianapolis Colts have things to improve.

Recently, the NFLPA released team report cards for all 32 teams. The players’ association surveyed 1,300 of the league’s players and asked them to grade teams in several different categories. The purpose of these report cards, per the NFLPA, is “to not only help [players] make important career decisions, but also help raise standards across the league.” With free agency approaching, this could be used as a guide by players to understand more about franchises they could be joining.

Teams were graded in eight different areas: treatment of families, food service / nutrition, weight room, strength coaches, training room, training staff, locker room, and team travel. With all of the grades in, they were averged and teams were then ranked from one to 32. The Indianapolis Colts were right in the middle, ranked 16 out of 32. The ranking shows that the Colts, as a whole, aren’t entirely good or bad, but just average. The specific category grades showed what Indy does well and what the organization really needs to fix.

Colts receive average grade in NFLPA report card

Indianapolis received an A or B in six of the eight categories. The two categories that Indy graded poorly in were food service/ nutrition, which Indy received a D for, and team travel, which Indianapolis received an F for. The write up explained that the players generally feel supported by Jim Irsay but food and travel were big problems.

In terms of food and nutrition, the Colts ranked 21st in the NFL. While the survey found that Indianapolis does provide players with all three meals, the quality seems to be the problem as “some players prefer to pack their own lunch rather than eat at the facility.” This is something for the organization to improve.

An even bigger problem for the Colts was team travel. Indy’s grade was an F, which ranked 28th in the league. The report card highlights that Indy is “one of 6 teams that make younger players have roommates” and also “one of 7 teams that do not offer players first-class seats.” With traveling being a big part of an NFL season, this should be a very important category that the Colts want to get sorted out.

With free agency, the deciding factors are often assumed to be contract sizes and team competitiveness. However, these other things being graded can be big factors in a player’s decision as well, so the Colts should keep striving to be the best overall franchise.

READ MORE: Colts explain what they want in a rookie quarterback