The Detroit Lions promised improvements
Indianapolis — After an inaugural 2023 NFLPA player survey found the Detroit Lions were lagging behind their league counterparts in nutrition and workout room facilities, the team is committed to making improvements. A second annual survey released Wednesday, to which nearly 80 percent of players responded, showed the Lions have made progress in both areas, but still have room to grow.
After receiving a D- in nutrition and a D+ for their training room in the 2023 survey, the Lions saw players give the training room a B for this past season. Meanwhile, the nutrition category was split into two parts this year, with team food offerings getting a C and nutritionist/dietitian getting a C+. Despite these improvements, both ranked in the bottom half of the league.
Beyond those areas of focus, the Lions ranked in the top half of the league in most categories and 13th overall, an improvement of two spots from last year. The franchise’s treatment of families, travel amenities and the weight room scored particularly well.
The survey also ranked head coaches and owners for the first time. Unsurprisingly, Dan Campbell scored among the best in the league. He was one of three coaches to earn an A+, along with Kansas City’s Andy Reid and Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell.
As for ownership, Sheila Hamp earned a B-, which is probably a bit lower than expected given the investment in the team’s facilities and the overall cultural overhaul she oversaw, with headlined by the hires of Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes in 2021. 21st among owners in the survey.
In a letter to players, union president JC Tretter reiterated the purpose of the survey, which is to serve as a useful guide to players making free agency decisions, while raising standards in the whole league.
“For many years, our players have talked about the idea of creating a ‘Free Agency Guide’ that would illuminate the daily experience of players and their families on each team,” Tretter wrote. “Last year, we created the first version of this guide, and it was a success on several levels: players were better informed about how their workplace compared to others in the NFL; some clubs made immediate improvements based on information we released; gave our union a platform to advocate for improved labor standards in the NFL. Based on feedback we received from our players last year and the positive impact it had for players at several clubs.
Tretter noted that survey participation increased from about 60 percent of members to 77 percent in one year.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
@Justin_Rogers
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