Bucs Get Dinged On NFLPA Report Card
February 27th, 2025
“Maybe the players need more hugs from us. Who’s first?”
The nuns would be peeved at Joe.
If Joe got this low of a grade on something in school, Joe would have to stick out a hand so a sexually frustrated nun with a wooden pointer would whack Joe’s palm — provided Joe didn’t get punched by a priest first.
The NFLPA pumped out its annual team report card, conveniently timed when all #NFLMedia is clustered into one building in downtown Indianapolis.
Each team was graded on how it treats its players whether players perceive the team to be a good employer in various categories.
In an overall grade, the Bucs were ranked No. 27 in the league.
First, the highlights: The strength coaches got an A. Wrote the NFLPA: “100% of players report that they get an individualized plan from their strength coaching staff, one of the three teams in the league with a perfect score.”
Also, the Bucs have good grub. They got a B+ grade for the team’s nutritionist/dietician. The training staff was graded better with a B. Weight room got a B as well, and Bucs coach Todd Bowles got a B+.
Maybe having edge rushers drop back into coverage so much came back to bite Todd Bowles, preventing him from getting an A?
Overall, Bucs players gave their locker room a “C” and cited bad plumbing and a persistent stench in the locker room. Will that be gone with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka’s expected departure?
(Joe once remembers Tristan Wirfs trying to find the source of a scent he claimed smelled like baby powder, and he believed one of the members of the Tampa Bay pen and mic club wore some weird cologne that smelled like it.)
In only one category did the Bucs get a grade worse than a C- and that was ownership.
Team Glazer received a D-.
Among the reasons for the low score was a perceived lack of investment in facilities and allegedly not contributing to the winning culture of the team.
Joe isn’t sure about the latter. Doesn’t culture start at the very top?
February 27th, 2025 at 4:11 am
I have little use for anonymous surveys asking players being paid millions if the team owners provide enough investment. The percentage of players who end up broke after their playing days are done is staggering. How well does a team keep players that they want to resign is far more telling regarding investment dollars. I think the Bucs do well there. Strength, conditioning, the head coach and yes, food are far better questions to ask on these type of surveys.
February 27th, 2025 at 4:12 am
Joe … ‘Team Glazer received a D-.’
Wow, talk about biting the hand that feeds ya.
February 27th, 2025 at 4:28 am
I find this very interesting, maybe because they don’t meddle? I find it a little disrespectful considering they flew and got everyone into a hotel during a freaking hurricane and it’s not the first time they’ve done that.
February 27th, 2025 at 5:05 am
Didnt Joe run an article saying that the Bucs Stadium is one of the oldest in the NFL now and its the only one in the bottom 12 where the owners arent actively pursuing new builds? If you arent investing in your team facilities it starts to show and players are simply highlighting this. Get the plumbing fixed!!!
The Glazers other sports team (Man Utd) have a stadium that is falling apart with roof leaks etc. and has been neglected from the moment they took over. Maybe someone needs to give them the number of a good plumber???
February 27th, 2025 at 5:06 am
“a perceived lack of investment in facilities”. One thing that confounds me about our team is how come do we play so poorly at home. Defending your home turf is usually an advantage but it doesn’t seem to be the case with our team. We really need to find a way to fix this going forward. Maybe the players not being proud of their facilities has something to do with it. Doesn’t sound right but we definitely don’t perform well at home. I guess they played well enough when they won that Super Bowl in Tampa. No excuses guys, play stronger at home!
February 27th, 2025 at 5:31 am
I wonder if the players angst comes from their families getting charged ~20 for that big cup of beer that gets hot in 5 seconds? Heck I’d be pissed too.
February 27th, 2025 at 5:33 am
@kentonsmith…..maybe when the opposing team often has 20-25k of their fans in the crowd, or more…there are no home games
February 27th, 2025 at 5:34 am
@DefenseRules, @LeopoldStolch, @KentonSmith
D.R., L.P., the same two thoughts immediately came to mind for me.
If you’re looking for a big payday in your next contract, throwing the big boss under the bus might not be the best way to go about it, lol.
Re: the hurricane, not just the players, but their families and even the family pets! Undoubtedly the motive was to make sure the players weren’t focused on what was happening back in Tampa, but still.
K.S. I’ve wondered about a connection between those two things, as well. , But the other side of the coin is the Browns from many years ago. Brand new facility with state-of-the-art, top-dollar brand-new everything, and the team still choked for the first few years in it.
Something in the water, maybe? Lol.
February 27th, 2025 at 6:15 am
Arrowhead stadium is 51 years old and doesn’t seem to be slowing down the Chiefs.
February 27th, 2025 at 6:31 am
Love this survey and deep diving into it. The team loves Bowles 100%. Says so much. Sad about the low rating on the ownership, team travel, locker room, food, treatment of families… Read it last year on here and thought work would be done to improve these areas. Maybe this year they will. Hope so for the team.
February 27th, 2025 at 6:39 am
I believe the addition of some high quality air purifiers would help with the conditions in the locker room.
That’s an easy, quick, and inexpensive fix.
I’ve been researching them for the past couple weeks for a friend who has a problem with mold.
I’m surprised the Glazer’s received a D-. All those other things that received higher grades, the food, coaches, etc, are the result of the owners intention to do all they can to help the players. They just tried to make Liam Coen one of the highest paid OCs in the NFL to keep him here.
February 27th, 2025 at 6:51 am
Why would u assume the nun was sexually frustrated, joe. Poor choice of words there.
February 27th, 2025 at 7:03 am
But aside from that, our locker room seems fairly tight knit. I dont think sketchy plumbing will alter that.
February 27th, 2025 at 7:15 am
For the players that gave the Glazers a low score.
We fans should remind them of the Culverhouse years.
February 27th, 2025 at 7:20 am
Let’s just say this, the Glasers weren’t exactly football people. So with two championships under their belt they did alright.
February 27th, 2025 at 7:28 am
NFL must have missed what the G’Boyz did last hurricane season!
February 27th, 2025 at 7:29 am
Sounds like they all were aware of smell related maintenance needed that we are not taking care of lol
February 27th, 2025 at 7:29 am
Yeah, you’re right. Poor choice of words. Joe should have been more direct: She should have had that pointer used on her a lot worse than what she did to children.
February 27th, 2025 at 7:31 am
Makes you wonder if this begins stadium talk
Oy
I just wanna see my buccos
February 27th, 2025 at 7:35 am
OMG.
“Will that (stench) be gone with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka’s expected departure?”
Absolutely the funniest line of the year so far, Joe!
Great one!
Thanks for the unanticipated belly laugh!
February 27th, 2025 at 7:38 am
The Glazers are not building a new stadium they have already said as much.
February 27th, 2025 at 7:44 am
The Glazers are not involved in everyday football decisions they rely on Licht to handle that. Its probably for the best. Jerry Jones has his nose in everything in Dallas and the team is underachieving every year.
February 27th, 2025 at 8:00 am
geno711 Says: “For the players that gave the Glazers a low score. We fans should remind them of the Culverhouse years.” True that, geno711!
February 27th, 2025 at 8:00 am
The Glazers hooking up players and staff’s families and pets with resort accommodations until each home’s electricity was turned back on is a 1000% first class move. Them getting a low 2024 score for “treatment of families” seems super f’d up.
I read through the report (thanks Joe for providing the link!) and I guess the players not having a post game family area was more important than keeping their families safe in the middle of a catastrophic hurricane. Like, what???
February 27th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Interesting story here. I see the Glazers as the exact opposite of Tepper. Both ends of an extreme. Hands off but holding your generals to the results of your troops is generally a philosophy I agree with, but staying in the ivory tower all the time alienates the crew. That’s probably what’s going on here. Some quiet presence amongst the players or on the sideline every now and then might help. But, obviously don’t go “full Tepper.”
February 27th, 2025 at 8:33 am
Same stuff being said about the Glazers from Manchester United
February 27th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Yeah, gotta wonder what they want from Team Glazer? They don’t mind paying salaries and have heard for years — decades — if the coaches/front office needs something, they have no problem cutting a check.
February 27th, 2025 at 8:39 am
Everybody that works for the Glazes hates them. Ask Manu players and fans. They ad to find some Lord or something take over Soccer operations. The actually suck worse now. Even little Nottingham Forest is better. I always loved Robin Hood.
February 27th, 2025 at 9:16 am
surprised that the bucs mgmt hasnt learned their lesson regarding cleanliness.
MRSA anyone?
February 27th, 2025 at 9:27 am
ok. lets tackle the real issue with the glazers manchester united. they are hated in england as man u has dropped down the food chain.
likewise, the bucs feel like minor leaguers next to the rock star status of the mancnester u players.
no doubt the lost decade was due to money going to man u instead of the bucs.
if hal steinbrenner owned the bucs hed be hated too, because the yankees would always be a bigger deal.
they did redeem themselves with brady etc., so im fine. we dont need a better owner.
February 27th, 2025 at 9:27 am
Surprised Licht didn’t fix the low scores from last year.
Which if I recall was family area post game.
Ownership went above and beyond to take care of families during the hurricane and they get this grade?
Some sour grapes I think.
February 27th, 2025 at 9:50 am
The Glazers borrowed £604m to buy Utd in a leveredged buyout where they put that debt on the clubs books, the club have since paid £834m in interest and the debt still stands at £731m. They have financially ruined Utd which is a big part of the reason they are in the mess they are in.
February 27th, 2025 at 10:24 am
Translated, the Glazer Boys are CHEAP! They are the sole reason why the Bucs will address edge in the draft vs. free agency. Saves them a fortune. Classic Culverhouse approach.
February 27th, 2025 at 10:38 am
Jeff’s grandpa. He is at it again! Keep an eye on that boy, please!
February 27th, 2025 at 10:44 am
2002 Bucs won a superbowl working out of trailers at the airport…
Facilities? Give me a break.
February 27th, 2025 at 10:52 am
Millionaires bitching on an anonymous survey
February 27th, 2025 at 11:15 am
LOCKERROOM STENCH AND MOLD
I recall those two issues have hit the report card every year for the past three years. They had a player almost die of MERSA. Why have they not fixed the issue? That is so gross.
The Glazers catch a lot of flak. Chucky’s emails about them were part of the reason he got canceled. Where there is smoke … I’m starting to think they totally suck.