Browns Rank In Bottom Third Of The League In NFLPA's Annual Team Report Card

In the NFLPA's second annual team report card, which allows players to grade each team's daily experience, the Browns came in as the 23rd ranked team for workplace conditions.

The Browns have come a long way in the winning department over the last four years. They still have work to do in the player work conditions department.

Cleveland ranked 23rd overall on the NFLPA's annual player report card. The Browns didn't get an A in any of the categories the survey assesses, with their highest marks coming in the form of a B+ for the strength staff, a B for ownership and a pair of B- for head coach and training staff. Treatment of families received the lowest grade on the team's report card, a D-, matching the Jets and Jaguars. Only six teams finished with a lower grade in that area.

The Browns also received a D for team travel and weight room, while earning a D+ for their locker room setup.

NFLPA Website

The goal of the survey, according to union president and former Browns' center JC Tretter is to create a "guide" for free agent players that would shine light on the daily work experience they would endure with each organization across the league.

For Cleveland, the low treatment of families grade centers several key factors. Most notably, the lack of a true family room at the stadium is mentioned. There was also a note that early on in the season, the team did not allow players who were carted off the field due to injury to contact their loved ones from the locker room to let them know how they were doing. 

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The lower weight room grade centers around the lack of a weight room at the team's facility in Berea. Currently, the weight room is set up as a "temporary" space inside the field house that takes up a section of the actual practice surface. The organization has recently worked to acquire more property around their team facility with an eye on expansion of the complex.

That is hinted at in the section explaining the overall B grade for owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who received a rating of 8.6/10 from the players for their willingness to invest in the team's facilities.

As for the locker room, players cited the space simply being too small and the individual lockers being too tight as well. Similarly, the biggest complain about the travel situation is a lack of personal space on the team's charter. Cleveland is also apparently one of only seven teams that require some of their players to have roommates the night before a game.

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Interestingly, two-time coach of the year Kevin Stefanski received one of the higher grades across the entire survey but as the report card notes, about 30% of players feel he isn't efficient with their time. Additionally, players mentioned that Kevin Stefanski is somewhat willing to listen to the locker room.

On a positive note, there does appear to be resounding support for the Browns strength and conditioning staff, headlined by Larry Jackson. Players seem to believe that group significantly contributes to their success. As a whole, players suggested that the training staff moderately contributes to their success.

Last season, which was the first year the NFLPA conducted this study, the Browns ranked 21st. As far as the rest of the league goes, the Dolphins, Vikings, Packers, Eagles and Jaguars were the top five graded teams. With the Steelers, Patriots, Chargers, Chiefs and Commanders rounding out the bottom five.