Report cards for NFL teams are back, and the grades from members of the NFL Players Association are in.

For the second straight year, the Washington Commanders were ranked the worst team overall by their own players based on the 11 categories related to working conditions. Managing partner Josh Harris and his ownership group received a “B” and ranked 18th in the league at the end of their first year, but the team did not finish above 25th in any other category except for strength coaches (fifth, A).

The back-to-back defending Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs were a clear indicator that coaches and ownership are often not viewed in the same light. Head coach Andy Reid received an A+ from players, while owner Clark Hunt got a F in willingness to invest in team facilities. The Chiefs finished 31st overall due to the quality of care players received from the training staff and the outdated facilities. (Kansas City unveiled renderings for a “reimagined” Arrowhead Stadium Wednesday.)

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid holds the trophy next to Kansas City Chiefs’ owner, chairman and CEO Clark Hunt as they celebrate winning Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 11, 2024.

The Arizona Cardinals, 31st overall last year, moved up to 27th in 2023.

“Notable upgrades from last season include providing a daycare and small family room, and they stopped the practice of charging players for dinner,” the NFLPA said in its overview of the Cardinals’ report card. “The club also upgraded their weight room with new equipment and replaced the hazardous floor from last season. “

The NFLPA, which organized the surveys, would like for the practice to become a yearly exercise for players to participate – 1,706 did so this time. This year, the exercise included grades for the 32 head coaches and owners, along with a score for the team dietician/nutritionist. The survey was administered from Aug. 26-Nov. 16, 2023.

The Miami Dolphins dethroned the Minnesota Vikings as the top overall workplace according to the survey, although Minnesota finished No. 2 in 2023 with two categories (food/cafeteria, training staff). Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was the highest-rated owner in the NFL for his willingness to invest in the facilities, and Miami received straight As.

“Minnesota, along with Miami, have separated themselves into their own tier in terms of what it means to run a world-class NFL workplace,” the NFLPA said.

Said the NFL in a statement: “The league and its clubs always encourage and solicit player feedback to help improve all facets of their NFL experience. We look forward to getting the opportunity to review the union’s questionnaire, and the data supporting it, after its release to the media.”

Charles Robinson of YahooSports.com on the report card and the Chiefs:

Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt stood in a semi-circle of reporters on Wednesday, pressed over a somewhat surprising development earlier in the day. A strong contingent of his players, who will soon be slipping on yet another Super Bowl ring — the third in five years for some of them — had some notes to share with their team owner and the outside world about the franchise’s inner workings.

Their head coach, Andy Reid? He landed an A+ rating among a strong contingent of Chiefs players who took part in the second annual NFL Players Association survey, which was released Wednesday. Reid’s grade was the best in the league among head coaches, according to the union.

And that’s where the organizational flowers ran out.

In 10 other categories, the back-to-back Super Bowl champion franchise didn’t get a single rating from their players higher than a C+. Most shockingly, they landed two Ds (training room and team travel), one D+ (treatment of families), three Fs (nutritionist/dietician, locker room and training staff) — and one absolute anchor-dragging F- … for their franchise owner, Clark Hunt.

As NFLPA President J.C. Tretter framed it Wednesday: “A lot of that was, I would say, frustration from the guys on promises that haven’t been kept as they’ve put a bunch of success on the field. Not this past year, [but] the year before, the team promised them a brand new locker room. [They were told] they were going to renovate it. They go on to win the Super Bowl, they come back for offseason — same locker room, but with chairs [instead of stools].

“They kind of said, ‘What’s the deal?’ And [they were told], ‘Well, you guys went far in the playoffs. We didn’t have time to do it, so we didn’t.’ … I think you’ll see that frustration in the survey responses, where they feel like they’ve been promised change and they’re not actually receiving the change as they’ve [been] putting out Super Bowl after Super Bowl.”

Regardless of what critics might say of the report card and how it does or doesn’t correlate to on-field performance, everyone should understand one thing this represents: This is an illustration of the Chiefs players speaking directly to ownership, using a tool that actually gives them the freedom to send a message without the worry of retribution. And that message is clear. Despite being one of the best teams on the field for multiple years — operating with the league’s best head coach and best quarterback for the past six years — they’re not big fans of how a large portion of the actual workplace environment is functioning.

That’s how you get the Chiefs workplace going from an overall league ranking of 29th in 2022 to 31st in 2023 — with one F grade in eight categories during the 2022 season to four (four!) in 11 categories during the 2023 season. All of this in the midst of back-to-back Super Bowls, no less.

What would these grades look like if the Chiefs weren’t experiencing the highs of being in a dynastic period?

That critical feedback is how you got to a remarkable scene Wednesday, which was basically unheard of in the NFL prior to just a few years ago. A picture of Hunt being prodded by reporters to answer for what led to players scoring him an F- (and a combined 4.9/10 rating) in response to a question about his “willingness to invest in the facilities.”

Clark was asked: Did you tell the players they would get a renovated locker room?

“Well we did completely renovate the locker room here in the stadium a couple of years ago, so I’m not sure which locker room they’re referring to,” Hunt said.

Pressed about why the Chiefs continued to get low report card rankings and criticism over the facilities, Hunt replied, “I mentioned that the practice facility is something that we’re going to continue to think about. It’s coming up on 20 years [old]. We certainly in a lot of ways have outgrown it. We recognize that we have a need to expand it and modernize it.”

Before the NFLPA created these report cards, that’s not an interaction you would see very often, if at all, between an NFL team owner and reporters, largely because there was never actual data and grades to point to, driven by survey of players that allowed them to speak freely about how they felt about a team. Instead, what typically occurred for decades was a slow-drip cycle of players complaining to reporters about their perception that ownership was pinching pennies in some respect and cutting corners, or a free agent changing teams would remark about how much better or worse their new surroundings were. Almost always, nothing changed, other than a hardened long-term perception in the media about which teams or franchise owners were historically “cheap” when it came to the working environment inside their buildings.

That’s how the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals and San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers got a reputation in the 1990s and 2000s that carried over into free agency. And it’s how prior to their move to Las Vegas, the Raiders were known across the league as a franchise lagging horribly behind everyone else when it came to technological advances in scouting and analytics. Those reputations took years and sometimes even decades to become rooted in the public consciousness.

Now? In some respects, it has taken only two years and two surveys for everyone to look at the Chiefs and wonder what the heck is going on inside a franchise that seems to be winning everywhere but inside their own workplace culture. And you can bet one year from now, when the next survey rolls out, there is going to be a piercing spotlight on whether or not the Chiefs cleaned up some of these things.

Same as there was on the Jacksonville Jaguars this week, after the team had a practice facility rat infestation outed in the survey one year ago. Well, what a difference one year and one new practice facility makes. The Jaguars went from ranking 28th overall during the 2022 season to fifth overall in 2023, largely thanks to a report card that had As and Bs in 10 of the 11 categories polled. That still didn’t stop Jacksonville’s players from shading the franchise on treatment of families, which landed a D- and 24th overall ranking in this year’s report card.

What’s remarkable about all of this is it illustrates the willingness of players speaking their mind and flexing their power when given a protected opportunity to do so. The NFLPA’s poll gives players a chance to pull the curtain back on the inner culture of franchises, letting the public and other players know what the true temperature is inside the building. And it absolutely matters to team owners because while the union has stressed repeatedly that the report card isn’t meant to be a “shaming” tool, you can be sure that Hunt wasn’t thrilled to be answering for an F- on Wednesday. Nor was the new Commanders regime likely happy to see that for the second straight year, it can hang the banner of being ranked the league’s worst overall workplace environment for players.

In some ways, it’s appropriate that this report card comes out at the league’s annual combine, which is experiencing an ongoing renaissance of players refusing to take cognitive tests that repeatedly get leaked, and a growing number of elite players who refuse to go through a gauntlet of drills that the NFL has built a tentpole event around. That’s why you won’t see the top three quarterbacks perform this week, including USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and UNC’s Drake Maye, nor the top two wideouts in Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and LSU’s Malik Nabers. That’s five players who could be the first five drafted in April. And none of them will be putting on a show for NFL Network in Indianapolis, choosing instead to shift their work to pro days or personal workouts.

Much like the NFLPA’s player poll, that’s something that you wouldn’t have seen a decade ago — at least not without a significant red-faced tantrum from coaches and personnel people that usually ended with anonymous shots at the character of the athletes who were skipping the event. But this week? Complaints have been far more mellow about skipped drills and almost nonexistent about cognitive tests being punted.

More than ever, it feels like there’s change afoot in the league when it comes to players pressing back against league norms. Voices are being used. Workouts are being refused. And all the while, the NFL is continuing to grapple with a power structure that is no longer free of questions from the players who reside within it.

More from the survey will pop up in various teams below (JACKSONVILLE for one, TAMPA BAY for another) as well as a section near the bottom on how the players regarded their coaches.

CHICAGO

There was a time the QB CALEB WILLIAMS camp was whispering that the USC quarterback wanted nothing to do with Chicago.  But on the record?  Not now, if ever.  Grant Gordon of NFL.com:

USC quarterback Caleb Williams, viewed as a likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, said he’d be thrilled to be selected by the Chicago Bears, doing his best to clear up rumblings to the contrary.

“If I get drafted by the Bears, I’ll be excited,” Williams said in an interview with ESPN’s Pete Thamel published on Wednesday. “If they trade the pick, and I get drafted by someone else, I’m just as excited. Speaking about Chicago, they have a talented team, a talented offense and defense. For anyone to be in that situation, I think they’d be excited.”

Williams is scheduled to arrive Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and is expected to meet with the Bears, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Williams will take part in meetings, but will forego testing and on-field work, which he’s expected to do in USC’s pro day on March 20.

In his interview with ESPN, Williams expunged any notions that he would ask to be traded rather than play in Chicago.

“I’m not pushing any agenda,” he said. “At the end of the day, the Bears have the last say. Regardless of how I feel, I’m not pushing an agenda of, ‘Yeah, I want to go. Or no, I don’t want to go.’ I’m excited for whatever comes.”

Bears general manager Ryan Poles, who has yet to announce if he intends to trade Chicago starter Justin Fields and/or keep the No. 1 pick, was asked Tuesday if he had any concerns about the rumored reservations of Williams playing in the Windy City.

“No. No. No concerns about that at all,” Poles said. “I would love to know why, if that was the case. Like I said, I think as a young quarterback, and I’ve been around it, the infrastructure is important, and I think we’ve made really good progress in terms of having really good infrastructure for whoever were to come in or if Justin were to stay here as well.”

Poles’ comments would seem to be in line with what Williams is hoping to find in his first NFL franchise.

“Just the constant growth and change, that’s important whether you are a quarterback or wide receiver or a general manager or an owner or an organization,” Williams said of what he’s looking for. “Just a healthy situation — in the facility, with the players — and just a place that really wants to win.”

Williams, who began his college career at Oklahoma before transferring to USC, was the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner. He passed for 8,170 passing yards, 72 touchdowns and 10 interceptions over two seasons with the Trojans. He’s the top-ranked prospect in Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50.

Meanwhile, see ATLANTA for JUSTIN FIELDS rumblings.

Former GM Randy Mueller floats a radical strategy at The Athletic:

Draft Caleb Williams or keep Justin Fields, right? No, the decision facing the Chicago Bears is not necessarily that simple.

If the Bears and general manager Ryan Poles trade away the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft (for the second consecutive year), most would assume they would be throwing their support behind Fields as their QB of the future. But that might not be true. There are alternatives to consider.

There are several keys to those alternatives. What is their evaluation of Williams, the USC quarterback? How far down the draft board would they trade? And how do they feel about the other QBs in this year’s draft? They are known to be meeting with all of the top quarterbacks this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

To sort that out, they would want to have a good feel for how the first 10 picks might fall. It’s not just about the QBs. Those are just the options we hear about publicly, but the level of intel and research that goes into the draft process runs much deeper.

What if the Bears are lukewarm on North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels, or both, like some in the business are? Many have force-fed us the narrative that there is a clear top tier of Williams, Maye and Daniels, with a line in the sand behind them. But in reality, some — I, for one — really like Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. He might just have the most upside of any of these guys.

Perhaps the Bears feel similarly. Let’s suppose they like Williams most but have McCarthy not too far behind. Would they rather have McCarthy and a haul of draft picks than Williams? If yes, how far could they trade down and still draft McCarthy? The New York Giants (No. 6), Atlanta Falcons (8), Minnesota Vikings (11), Denver Broncos (12) and Las Vegas Raiders (13) could be interested in a quarterback, and the Bears have another pick at No. 9. I’m not sure I would want to drop any lower than No. 7.

But that’s not the only scenario worth exploring. Perhaps Chicago has Williams, Maye and/or Daniels graded similarly and would be comfortable with the second or third quarterback drafted. What would the Washington Commanders, who pick second, be willing to give to move up one spot for Williams? What about the New England Patriots at No. 3?

If the Bears see Williams as the only guy, and clearly on a shelf by his lonesome self, this discussion is moot.

But if not, there could be tremendous value in trading both the No. 1 pick and Fields. Depending on how far down they traded, the Bears could — if they play their cards right — acquire a rare haul of future picks, allowing them to build up the roster for years. Is Poles willing to stake his career on such a move? Could he do it and still get the QB of his choice?

All of this might be quite unlikely. I’ve always been willing to roll the dice, but with the information I have at this point, I would draft Caleb Williams and trade Fields. However, my mind is always open for discussion, and these are the kinds of scenarios that NFL decision-makers are talking through 24/7. It’s the GM’s job to do due diligence, explore and evaluate all potential scenarios and then choose the best path.

My point is that it’s not as simple as many might believe.

DETROIT

DL DARIUS ROBINSON is dreaming of being a Detroit draftee.  NFL.com’s Erik Edholm:

Detroit dreaming. Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson has gone from football newbie to possible first-round pick in a shockingly short span.

The Southfield, Michigan, native started playing the sport as a junior at Canton Prep and was an unheralded recruit for the Tigers. Now, a mere six years later, the 6-foot-5, 286-pound playmaker could be one of the 2024 NFL Draft’s first 32 overall selections, especially following a very successful Senior Bowl performance.

Robinson said Wednesday he’s met with just about every NFL team, either at the Senior Bowl or so far at the combine, and enjoyed each interaction. But one of the meetings felt a little different.

Robinson said he met with his hometown Detroit Lions on Tuesday in Indy, and it got him a little jacked up.

“My heart was bumpin’,” he said. “I’ll tell you, it was like a dream, sitting there with all the names and faces (in the room), growing up a Lions fan. It was a great interview.”

There’s also this: The Lions might be seeking defensive line help, and this year’s draft will be held in none other than Detroit. Robinson said it’s his goal to be one of the prospects invited to the April 25-27 event.

“That’s my last goal,” Robinson said. “I grew up 20 minutes away. That would be a dream come true. That’s why I’ve come here to compete. … I really hope I get the opportunity.” — Eric Edholm

NEW YORK GIANTS

Anything could happen say the Giants as they contemplate a first round that currently has them picking 6^th.  Paul Schwartz of the New York Post:

They have to.

Where they are, up much higher than they expected to be, the Giants have to give serious thought to taking a quarterback in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft.

That does not mean they will select one.

To characterize the Giants as feeling desperate to pinpoint and select the successor to Daniel Jones is not accurate. They are not desperate. They did not expect to be in hailing distance of the top picks but here they are.

Their failures in 2023 put them at No. 6 overall in 2024 and, unless a team is absolutely, positively resolute that they have their franchise quarterback, it is incumbent at No. 6 to think about it long and hard.

“Where we are at six, we’re going to look at everything,’’ general manager Joe Schoen said this week at the NFL Scouting Combine. “We’re going to look at all positions. You hope you’re not up there again; you don’t want to be picking in the top 10, but it’s a good draft. It’s a solid draft across the board, and we’re going to have an opportunity to get a good player, and we’re going to evaluate all the positions and take the best player we can.’’

Sitting outside the top five this year is not the sweet spot for a team in the high-level quarterback market.

The Bears, Commanders and Patriots pick 1, 2, 3 and all three need quarterbacks. That means Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels could be off the board after three picks.

The Cardinals (No. 4) and Chargers (No. 5) are not going quarterback and the Giants at No. 6 and Titans (No. 7) could be. The Falcons (No. 8) are on the prowl for a quarterback.

The second quarterback tier in this draft is J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr., in varying order, depending on the flavor a team prefers. Taking any one of them at No. 6 feels like a considerable reach.

“It’s a good quarterback draft,’’ Schoen said. “It’s not just at the top. There are some guys that are mid-levels that I think will be good number twos. There are some guys that can be number threes in the draft.’’

Schoen has already declared the Giants will add a player to a quarterback room that currently consists of Jones and Tommy DeVito, who is entering his second year.

The general manager last year gave Jones a four-year contract worth $160 million and Jones is guaranteed $35 million this season, meaning he must be on the roster, with Schoen saying he expects Jones, if healthy, will be the opening-day starter.

There is no remaining guaranteed money for Jones after this season and the Giants can get out of the deal in 2025 with a dead money hit of $22 million.

So the Giants are married to Jones for now, but perhaps not for later.

Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll still believe in him but also acknowledge the harsh reality that Jones, since signing the new contract, experienced a second neck injury and then a torn ACL.

He is now viewed as a medical risk by the Giants.

“I have faith in Daniel as our starting quarterback,’’ Schoen said.

There does not seem to be much of an appetite within the Giants hierarchy to trade up into the top three.

That appetite could be whetted if the Giants, during the interview process, are blown away by one of the prospects.

A trade-up to No. 3 would be extremely costly — they would have to give up the No. 6 pick and possibly three second-round picks — and the Giants do not view themselves as one player away from anything.

They currently have four picks in the top 70 selections and believe they can restock their offense, giving Jones a true No. 1 wide receiver, as well as another offensive lineman and maybe find an edge rusher.

“It’s not one position, you’ve got to build a good team,’’ Schoen said. “You’ve got to have surrounding parts. There’s a lot of good quarterbacks that haven’t won Super Bowls. So, you’ve got to have a good team. It’s not just the quarterback position. I think you’ve got to continue to build a team around the quarterback. It’s an important position, but I think you’ve got to build the pieces around him on both sides of the ball and in all three phases.’’

No one has to delve too far back to see what can happen when a draft goes quarterback crazy.

In 2021, three of them were the first three picks: Trevor Lawrence to the Jaguars, Zach Wilson to the Jets and Trey Lance to the 49ers, who traded up from No. 12 to get him.

Two of those three teams are in deep regret mode for their decisions.

WASHINGTON

The deteriorating stadium in Maryland will no longer be associated with FedEx.  John Keim of ESPN.com:

FedEx severed its naming-rights ties with the Washington Commanders, ending their agreement two years early by taking advantage of the team’s change in ownership.

The remaining two years were worth approximately $15 million in revenue to Washington. The Commanders, who on Tuesday announced $75 million in upgrades and improvements to their stadium, now must find another sponsor.

According to Forbes, Washington generated $545 million in revenue last season.

While the move caught the team by surprise, according to multiple sources, the Commanders have been quietly seeking a new partnership for the past two months. Per the opt-out clause based on the ownership change, FedEx had to inform the team of its intentions before the end of the season, which the company did. A group led by Josh Harris purchased the team from Dan Snyder in July.

The franchise has been looking for a new stadium site. The team’s agreement with Prince George’s County to play at its current home expires in September 2027 though it can be extended. Multiple sources have said it’s possible the Commanders won’t open a new stadium until 2030. They are considering venues in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Washington’s quest to find a new naming rights partner could take several more months at least, one source said. But it’s possible the franchise can generate much more than what it would have received from FedEx if a new partner also secures rights to the next stadium. Allegiant Airlines reportedly pays the Las Vegas Raiders $20 million per year for naming rights on their stadium, which opened in 2020.

FedEx signed a 27-year deal worth $205 million in 1999 for the naming rights. FedEx has a separate partnership with the team that will remain in place.

In a statement, a team spokesperson said, “We thank FedEx Corporation for its longstanding naming rights sponsorship and their work with our team and community and look forward to their continued partnership within the Commanders family. We have already started the process of identifying our next stadium naming rights partner — a partner who will play a crucial role in ushering in the next era of not only Commanders football, but also a robust slate of top live events and concerts.”

The team has generated momentum with new sponsorships, including Anheuser-Busch and Verizon, since Harris bought the team. The Commanders have increased attendance as well: Washington averaged 63,950 fans this past season compared to 58,106 in 2022. Two years ago the Commanders averaged 52,751.

This offseason Washington hired new general manager Adam Peters and new coach Dan Quinn. The Commanders own the No. 2 pick in the draft, in addition to five picks in the first 100, and have approximately $78 million in available cap space — among the highest in the NFL.

FedEx chairman Fred Smith, a former minority partner of the team, ended on poor terms with Snyder, who bought the team in 1999.

Smith, and FedEx, pressured Snyder to change the previous name of the team, releasing a statement in 2020 that said, “We have communicated to the team in Washington our request that they change the team name.” The team eventually complied, under pressure from multiple sponsors.

In November 2020, amid an NFL investigation into Snyder and the franchise’s workplace culture, Smith and two other minority partners with Washington wanted to sell their shares in the team. One group of investors offered $900 million for their shares, which totaled approximately 40%. But Snyder wanted to match the offer for two of the minority partners — Smith and Bob Rathman — but not Dwight Schar.

Four months later the NFL granted Snyder a $450 million debt waiver and he bought out his three partners for $875 million. He sold the team to Harris for $6.05 billion.

“FedEx is a longtime sponsor of multiple sports leagues, properties, and teams,” FedEx said in a statement. “We continuously review our marketing programs to ensure our investments are aligned with our evolving business objectives. As part of this review, we have decided to not continue as the naming rights sponsor of FedExField as we focus on our broader NFL sponsorship and opportunities that reflect our global footprint. We believe the future is bright for the Washington Commanders, and we look forward to watching the team evolve under their new ownership.”

ATLANTA

Buzz builds, with an assist from QB JUSTIN FIELDS’ agent, that the Cartersville, GA product will be a Falcon soon.  Andrew McCarty of The Spun:

Late Tuesday night the manager of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields posted a very interesting video to his Instagram account.

The video showed the former first-round pick celebrating in his kitchen. What he was celebrating remains a mystery, but fans believe they know why Fields was so happy.

The video (watch here) showed Fields letting out a few excited yells before clapping his hands, jumping up in the air and then letting out a few more yells. Near the end of the video fans believe they heard something about Fields being “ready to go home.”

“Wait did I hear someone in the background say ‘You ready to go home?’ or am I trippin? Lol,” said one fan.

“Some people saying he said at the end of the video ‘Ready to go home,'” added another.

“Y’all hear that ‘ready to go home?’ part?” asked a third.

Fields was born and raised in Georgia and went on to play for the Bulldogs before eventually transferring to play at Ohio State. Is it possible he’s returning home to play for the Atlanta Falcons – who reportedly have interest in the former first-round pick?

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Bears seem to be preparing to trade quarterback Justin Fields. The Falcons might be preparing to trade for him.

The Falcons are the overwhelming favorites to land Fields in the odds set by DraftKings Sportsbook.

Atlanta is at -225, with the Bears next at +240. The Steelers come in at +340, and the Raiders are at +800.

The Patriots have +1500 odds, with the Broncos at +2000.

At one point, DraftKings removed the odds. They have since returned.

The Bears need to move quickly, if they’re going to trade Fields. With other quarterbacks available, seats will be filled quickly as free agency approaches. The longer the Bears wait, the greater the chance there won’t be a taker.

That could force the Bears to keep Fields until after the first round of the draft concludes, hopeful that a team targeting a quarterback in round one doesn’t get the player it wants. If that doesn’t happen, the Bears could be stuck.

Teams can agree to the terms of a trade currently. No deal can become official until March 13 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

TAMPA BAY

The Buccaneers respond to organizational criticism (mainly facilities and travel policy) in the NFLPA player service.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

The NFL Players Association’s report card of NFL teams serves as a means of calling out the teams that give players the worst treatment. Those teams are taking notice.

The Buccaneers issued an organizational statement responding after getting low grades on the NFLPA report.

“We value the NFLPA report and the input from our players that it provides,” the Bucs’ statement said. “The feedback allows us to examine, address and improve many areas of our operation. We hold ourselves to the highest standards as we strive to be first-class in everything we do.”

The NFLPA says Bucs owner Joel Glazer has not been first class.

“The players described the locker room as ‘unclean’ and ‘smelly,’ and they even cited seeing bugs consistently in the showers,” the NFLPA report card says. “Respondents also described the team sauna as ‘dirty,’ ‘small’ and ‘broken down.’ Younger players must have roommates on work travel, unless they pay the team more than $1,750 for their own room each season. They do have a daycare room on gamedays, but charge players’ families $90 per child, which most other teams offer for free.”

That doesn’t sound like a good working environment, but it’s to the Bucs’ credit that they’ve acknowledged the NFLPA report and vowed to hold themselves to a high standard.

SAN FRANCISCO

A new name surfaces in San Francisco’s DC search.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

One of the coaches who helped the Chiefs beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl is among the candidates to run Kyle Shanahan’s defense in 2024.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that Chiefs defensive backs coach David Merritt is interviewing for the opening on Shanahan’s staff. The 49ers fired Steve Wilks after their overtime loss to the Chiefs in Las Vegas.

Former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, 49ers defensive passing game specialist Nick Sorenson, and 49ers defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks are also up for the job.

Merritt has been in his current job since 2019 and also had a long run with the Giants as part of Tom Coughlin’s staff. He has won five Super Bowl rings over his time with the two teams.

He’s 52 years old.  Played linebacker at North Carolina State.

Next year would be his 24^th consecutive year as an NFL coach.

We would note that the job done by the Giants’ defensive backs in limiting Tom Brady was instrumental to NYG’s two SB wins.  And, at least in 2023, the Chiefs have had an excellent secondary.  Interesting that he has had such a low profile with the media.

SEATTLE

S JAMAL ADAMS, sometimes effective, sometimes hurt, sometimes disruptive, may be taking his abilities elsewhere.  Matt Ehalt of the New York Post:

Jamal Adams will have to see if his next “opportunity” is in Seattle or elsewhere.

The ex-Jets safety posted a cryptic message on X on Tuesday as rumors swirl about whether Seattle will move on from the oft-injured and underwhelming veteran under a new regime.

“Looking forward to the opportunity,” Adams tweeted.

There are some early indications that opportunity may not be in the Pacific Northwest as the Seahawks usher in a new era under former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who was hired this offseason to replace Pete Carroll as coach.

Seahawks president of football operations and general manager John Schneider didn’t give Adams a ringing endorsement Tuesday at the NFL combine when asked if the team’s plans included the ex-Jet.

“Is he in his plans?’’ Schneider said, according to the Seattle Times. “Yeah, I mean, we’ll find out. We’ll keep working through things. … We’re still trying to figure all that out.’’

The Seahawks had high hopes for Adams when they acquired him from the Jets for two first-round picks prior to the 2020 season, but he has not lived up to expectations.

Adams made the Pro Bowl in his first season with Seattle and then signed a four-year, $70 million contract extension.

He has struggled to stay on the field since.

The 28-year-old has played in just 22 games over the last three seasons, including nine this past season while recovering from a torn quad tendon that limited him to one game in the 2022 season.

Adams would be on the Seahawks’ books for $26.9 million this season — which would be the highest cap hit of any safety for the 2024 season, according to the Seattle Times — but the team could move on from him with a dead cap hit of $20.8 million, according to spotrac.com.

Schneider expects Adams to be better positioned to remain on the field in this upcoming season, although that may not be enough to keep him in Seattle.

Adams previously said he considered retiring following the injury.

“It was a rough year for him,’’ Schneider said, per the Seattle Times. “… I’m sure Jamal would tell you guys it was hard for him. He fought his tail off to get back. He was constantly trying to be out there, trying to be active and working with the coaching staff, working with the trainers, strength and conditioning guys. I would expect him to be much healthier next year, yes.’’

KANSAS CITY

The Chiefs have dropped (pun intended) WR MARQUEZ VALDES-SCANTLING.

The Chiefs are releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, saving the team $12 million against their salary cap, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday.

The move comes after the Chiefs informed cornerback L’Jarius Sneed they are prepared to use the franchise tag on him and are open to consummating a trade if no long-term deal is reached, a source told Fowler on Tuesday.

The Chiefs are expected to use the nonexclusive franchise tag, which would cost about $19 million for the 2024 season.

On Tuesday, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said at the scouting combine in Indianapolis that he was prepared to use the franchise tag on Sneed or star defensive tackle Chris Jones if the team can’t get them both re-signed by the start of free agency next month.

Valdes-Scantling played two seasons with the Chiefs after signing as a free agent from the Green Bay Packers. He caught 42 passes in 2022 and 21 last season but often had his biggest moments in the playoffs.

He caught eight passes for 116 yards and a touchdown in the AFC Championship Game victory over the Cincinnati Bengals after the 2022 season.

Last season he caught a pass to secure the Chiefs’ AFC Championship Game win over the Baltimore Ravens and had the Chiefs’ first touchdown in their Super Bowl LVIII victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Valdes-Scantling was fifth in receptions on the Chiefs in the 2023 regular season. Rookie Rashee Rice was their leader at the position with 79 catches.

Jordan Dejani of CBSSports.com offers three spots for Valdes-Scantling to catch on:

Valdes-Scantling, who primarily serves as a deep threat, came over to Kansas City in 2022 on a three-year, $30 million deal after spending four seasons with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of South Florida. Valdes-Scantling’s best NFL campaign came in 2020, when he caught 33 passes for 690 yards and six touchdowns, while leading the league with 20.9 yards per reception.

Before this move, the Chiefs had $28.15 million in cap space, per Over The Cap, which ranked No. 17 in the league. Kansas City has some big-name free agents, such as star defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. Tuesday, it was reported that the Chiefs are prepared to place the franchise tag on Sneed if they can’t agree to a new deal, and that both sides could be open to a trade as well.

Now that MVS is a free agent, where could he land? Let’s take a look.

New York Jets

Valdes-Scantling has said he’s played with the two best quarterbacks of all time in Mahomes and Rodgers. Why not be open to joining forces with Rodgers again? The Packers additions of Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard did not work out for the Jets last year, but MVS would come cheap, and would add that deep-ball receiving threat. The Jets are looking to add more weapons this offseason, and Rodgers would probably be open to this. Five of Valdes-Scantling’s six 100-yard games came with the Packers.

Philadelphia Eagles

You can never have enough weapons, and the Eagles will need to make some decisions with a couple of their free-agent wideouts in Olamide Zaccheaus and Quez Watkins. MVS could be a nice downfield threat for Jalen Hurts, and create some splash plays while secondaries focus on A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans are undergoing a shift in identity, as their offense will no longer be Derrick Henry running up the middle 50% of the time. With Brian Callahan in charge, you can expect more of a passing attack, and Tennessee is in position to potentially find success in this switch with the big-armed Will Levis. Callahan said at the NFL Combine on Tuesday that he’s looking for fast, explosive receivers. MVS can certainly stretch the defense, and shouldn’t come too expensive.

– – –

The Chiefs superfan, Xavier Babudar, pleads guilty to bank robbery.  Elizabeth Merrill and David Purdum of ESPN.com:

— An infamous Kansas City Chiefs superfan pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to charges related to a string of bank robberies.

Xaviar Babudar, who gained notoriety for wearing a gray wolf suit to Chiefs games, admitted to stealing more than $800,000 in 11 bank robberies across seven states and laundering the proceeds through area casinos, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. He pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery, one count of money laundering and one count of transporting stolen property across state lines.

Babudar, 29, faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison. His sentencing is set for July 10.

Babudar must pay $532,675 in restitution and forfeit any property gained through his crimes, including an autographed painting of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes that he purchased at a charity auction.

“His violent crime spree across the Midwest and beyond traumatized bank employees and victimized financial institutions in seven states,” U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore said in a news release. “The defendant tried to conceal hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen cash by using it to gamble online and at casinos, but the odds caught up with him. With today’s conviction, he will be held accountable for the full scope of his criminal conduct, including his attempt to flee from justice.”

Babudar’s attorney, Matthew Merryman, told reporters outside the courthouse that the plea deal reduces the charges from 20 to three.

“Today was a big day for Xaviar Babudar,” Merryman said. “He took responsibility for his actions. He stood up in court, humble and repentant, and admitted what he had done. … Moving from 20 charges down to three charges, it was an opportunity. Xaviar Babudar would never physically harm anyone.”

Babudar appeared in the Western District of Missouri federal court Wednesday in handcuffs and a yellow jumpsuit. When asked by the judge if he wanted to plead guilty, he said, “Yes, your honor.” He nodded to his mother as he left the courtroom.

Babudar was first arrested Dec. 16, 2022, while fleeing on a bicycle from an armed robbery at the Tulsa Teachers Credit Union in Bixby, Oklahoma. He was released on bond in February, and a month later, after receiving $100,000 in winnings from two bets on the Chiefs, escaped. He evaded authorities for nearly four months, before being apprehended July 7, 2023, in California. He pleaded not guilty in August to 19 counts of money laundering, tax fraud and robbery.

He built a large social media following as @Chiefsaholic on X and Instagram, cultivating an image of an ambitious, generous young man who enjoyed gambling, Kansas State sports and most of all the Chiefs. However, an ESPN investigation revealed that much of what he portrayed about himself online was not true.

Babudar was listed as homeless in court documents following his arrest in Oklahoma, and police records showed he, his mother and brother were cited repeatedly for trespassing in the Kansas City area and appeared to be living out of their cars.

Babudar has spent the past seven months at Leavenworth federal prison in Kansas, listening to Chiefs games on a transistor radio.

INDIANAPOLIS

GM Chris Ballard is clear – WR MICHAEL PITTMAN, Jr. will be a Colt in 2024.  Stephen Holder of ESPN.com:

Colts general manager Chris Ballard offered a succinct but bold prediction when asked Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine whether impending free agent receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will be on the roster next season.

“Yes,” Ballard said, without a hint of hesitation.

It was a meaningful, if brief, reply to a critical question facing Indianapolis. The Colts’ top wideout the past three seasons, Pittman is set to become a free agent in the coming weeks after playing out his rookie contract.

But given Pittman’s preference to test the open market, the only way of truly ensuring Pittman remains on the roster for the 2024 season is to franchise-tag the 2020 second-round pick. NFL teams have until next Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET to designate a franchise player.

The nonexclusive franchise tag allows players to negotiate with other clubs, but it removes their unrestricted status because the player’s original team retains the right to match a competing offer or receive two first-round picks as compensation if the player signs with another club. The accompanying one-year salary for a franchised wide receiver this year is $21.816 million.

Regarding the idea of using the tag, which the Colts haven’t utilized since designating former punter Pat McAfee in 2013, Ballard said, “It’s a tool we have. I’m not going to say we’re not going to use it, but I’m not going to say we are. Hopefully we can come to an agreement and find some compromise on a deal.”

Ballard said those conversations are underway with Pittman’s representatives, but reaching a deal could prove challenging, especially before Tuesday. Pittman has expressed a desire to maximize his free agency, saying recently, “I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t explore every option and find the best fit.”

On Wednesday, Ballard said, “We’ve had talks with [Pittman’s] agent, who is really good… We’ll work hard to get a deal done.”

Pittman’s value to the Colts has long been clear. The 26-year-old has averaged 99 receptions and 1,053 yards during the past three seasons, during which he has played with six different starting quarterbacks.

Ballard and his staff will presumably be consulting with owner Jim Irsay throughout the Pittman negotiations, based on a health update Ballard offered on Wednesday.

“He is progressing well. We are talking,” Ballard said of Irsay, who was recently hospitalized with what the Colts described as a respiratory illness.

“Shane [Steichen] and I have talked to him multiple times and we keep him abreast of anything. Look, at the end of the day, we’re not going to do anything without his approval, so we still keep him in the loop. I mean, you know him. He wants to know. He loves his team. He’s making his way and he’s doing well. It’s getting better.”

All of that is notable given Irsay’s recent health challenges, which prompted great concern throughout the organization and among those close to the longtime owner. Irsay had not been involved in day-to-day management of the team for many weeks, sources told ESPN. Earlier this month, Irsay posted on X that he was “on the mend. Grateful for all the messages of love and support.”

It remains unclear what, if any, health challenges remain for Irsay in his recovery, but his involvement in team matters is an indication things are trending in a positive direction. Concerns about Irsay were compounded by recent news that he was found unresponsive at his home in early December and rushed to the hospital in what police described as a suspected overdose.

JACKSONVILLE

A huge jump for the Jaguars in the NFLPA player survey.  Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Jaguars opened the doors to the Miller Electric Center, a $120 million practice facility in downtown Jacksonville, before training camp. The 125,000-square-foot facility includes an indoor practice field as well as outdoor practice fields, team offices, locker rooms, medical facilities and a draft room.

Thus, it’s no surprise that, with the NFL’s newest training complex, the Jaguars made the biggest jump in the NFLPA’s second annual player team report card.

Jacksonville rose from 28th in the previous survey to fifth this year.

“When asked what the No. 1 thing they want changed at their facility, the answer was unanimous — get rid of the rats!” the 2023 NFLPA report card read. “Players reported that for 3-4 weeks this season, there was a rat infestation in the locker room and laundry hampers.”

The new facility brought A grades in ownership (No. 3 overall in that category), the team training room (No. 3), the weight room (No. 4) and the locker room (No. 6). The team also received an A in team travel, ranking fifth overall in that category.

“New facilities, no more rats,” NFLPA president JC Tretter said Wednesday.

Treatment of families was the team’s only grade below a B minus with the Jaguars one of only 12 teams that doesn’t provide a family room to players’ families during the game. Otherwise, owner Shad Khan’s team received high marks in the 11 categories surveyed.

– – –

Coach Doug Pederson is vague on the Jaguars’ 2024 play-calling plans.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson made a change to the team’s offensive play-calling ahead of last season and he’s not sure whether he’ll be making another one this year.

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor handled those duties in 2023 after splitting them with Pederson during the 2022 campaign. While speaking to reporters from the Scouting Combine this week, Pederson said his belief in Taylor “really is high” but that he hasn’t decided whether to keep the status quo in place for 2024.

“It’s something that’s part of the evaluation process,” Pederson said, via the team’s website. “I have to evaluate myself and Press as decision-makers and play-callers and see what’s best for our team. I haven’t decided, but those are all ongoing conversations that Press and I will have and go from there.”

The Jaguars were a bit less productive on offense in 2023 than they were in 2022, but the factors in that performance went well beyond the plays that were being called. As Pederson pointed out earlier in the offseason, the team turned the ball over too often and cleaning that up would help matters a great deal regardless of who is sending in the plays come September.

NEW YORK JETS

Will a team trade for QB ZACH WILSON, or just wait for him to be cut loose?  Rich Cimini of ESPN.com:

The New York Jets have granted Zach Wilson’s agent permission to speak with other teams about a potential trade, general manager Joe Douglas told reporters Wednesday at the scouting combine in Indianapolis.

While Wilson’s days with the team appear numbered, the Jets are trying to re-sign highly regarded pass-rusher Bryce Huff before he becomes a free agent, but they won’t use the franchise tag, Douglas said.

Wilson’s fate was sealed at the end of the season, when the Jets made it clear they would be in the market for a veteran backup to play behind Aaron Rodgers. That sentiment was reinforced recently by owner Woody Johnson, who said, “We need a backup quarterback. We didn’t have one last year.”

Douglas said he has had conversations with Wilson’s agent, Brian Ayrault. Douglas didn’t say whether Wilson — drafted No. 2 overall in 2021 — requested a trade, although it’s no secret that he’s looking for a change of scenery. The team told him during the season that it would be willing to accommodate him, sources said.

“I’m going to circle back with Brian at some point this week or next week just to see how those conversations go,” Douglas said. “But other than that, there’s nothing else to report.”

League sources told ESPN recently that Wilson, who has the league’s second-lowest Total QBR over the past three seasons, would fetch only a late-round draft pick in a trade. The Jets could seek a conditional pick, based on playing time.

THIS AND THAT

MOMENTUM FOR THE XFL KICKOFF

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Before the Scouting Combine, it was believed that the NFL could not get at least 24 owners to approve an XFL-style kickoff. That is now changing.

Appearing on Thursday’s PFT Live, NFL executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent said he currently believes that momentum is building toward persuading enough owners to embrace the change.

And the change in question will largely be premised on the XFL approach (which, oddly, the combined XFL/USFL has dumped). Most players will be only five yards apart at the moment the kick is received. And returns will be incentivized, since a kick into the end zone will result in the ball being placed at the 35.

The final proposal that will be made to the owners in March is being crafted. It should be finalized later this week.

The change, if it happens, will make the kick return a relevant and viable play again. And, as Troy explained, it will make it easier for talented return specialists to get past the line of defenders.

It’s conducive to scoring. It’s conducive to improved field position. It’s conducive to resurrecting what has become a dead play.

The overriding goal was to make it safer. By taking out high-speed collisions, it should be. By finding a way to inject more returns into the play, it also will be far more exciting.

THE PLAYERS GRADE THEIR COACHES

Interesting:

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com on coaches who weren’t liked by their players:

McDaniels, who was fired as head coach of the Raiders during the 2023 season, ranked dead last among NFL head coaches in the NFL Players Association’s survey that asked players to rank their own coaches, owners and team facilities.

“The responding players’ strong negative assessment of the former head coach significantly brought down the club’s overall ranking. The hope is that newly hired head coach Antonio Pierce will create a better working environment to match the top-of-the line facilities in Las Vegas,” the NFLPA’s report said.

Former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera ranked 31st in players’ approval, followed by former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith. It’s not surprising that the coaches who were the worst at developing relationships with their players all lost their jobs.

Among coaches who kept their jobs, the head coach who received the lowest rating was Dennis Allen of the Saints, who ranked 29th in the NFLPA survey.

The full list:

Ari Meirov

@MySportsUpdate

NFL head coach grades, via NFLPA survey:

A+: Andy Reid, Dan Campbell, Kevin O’Connell.

A: Sean McDermott, Zac Taylor, Mike McCarthy, Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel, Nick Sirianni, Mike Tomlin, Kyle Shanahan, Pete Carroll.

A-: Jonathan Gannon, Sean Payton, Brian Daboll, Doug Pederson, Shane Steichen, Frank Reich, DeMeco Ryans

B+: John Harbaugh, Matt LaFleur, Mike Vrabel

B: Matt Eberflus, Brandon Staley, Robert Saleh

B-: Kevin Stefanski, Bill Belichick, Dennis Allen, Todd Bowles

C+: Arthur Smith

C: Ron Rivera

D: Josh McDaniels.

Sean McDermott and Nick Sirianni better liked than you might have thought.

Kevin Stefanski, two-time NFL Coach of the Year, not so high.

Multiple winners of the AP Coach of the Year Award since the turn of the century:

Bill Belichick            3

Kevin Stefanski       2

Ron Rivera              2

Bruce Arians           2

Andy Reid has won it once – back in 2002.

Mike Tomlin and Tony Dungy never won – although Black coaches Lovie Smith and Marvin Lewis have.

Neither Shanahan, but both Harbaughs.

Jason Garrett.

Matt Nagy.