The Broncos’ ownership group scored high marks but the club checked in at the middle of the pack in the second annual NFL Players Association survey and team report card project.
The survey granted more than 1,700 NFL players anonymity to provide information about each team and then the union along with Artemis Strategy Group compiles the results and creates report cards for each team.
The union said Wednesday that nearly 77% of active players completed the survey in full.
This year, Broncos CEO Greg Penner and the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group checked in No. 5 league-wide and earned an A grade.
The report says Penner, “receives a rating of 9.6/10 from Broncos players when considering his willingness to invest in the facilities (5th overall).”
“The survey responses reflect a belief that the Broncos ownership group is willing to invest in the facilities since they purchased the team, as evidenced by choosing to fully replace the field for the final game of the 2022 season,” the Broncos’ overview says.
Denver scores poorly in categories including strength coaches (C, 30th overall) and the Centura Health Training Center locker room (D, 26th).
The report does note that the club’s $175 million-plus plan to rebuild its team headquarters and training facilities, which begins this spring and is expected to be completed in 2026, should improve some of the lower-scoring areas.
Denver ticked up in the ratings to No. 16 overall from No. 20 when the first report cards came out a year ago. Included in the improvements: Food service and nutrition jumping from tied for 22nd to 10th and the training staff jumping from tied for 28th to 11th.
The strength staff dropped from T-17 to 30th in a year that saw head coach Sean Payton take over and move on from Loren Landow to his long-time head strength coach in New Orleans, Dan Dalrymple.
The report said, “80% of players feel like they get an individualized plan (27th overall)” in the weight room.
Payton himself got a rosy grade (A-) from players, though players all over the league had high marks for their head coaches. That means A- actually checked in No. 17 in the NFL.
The union made it clear in its publishing of the report cards that its goal isn’t to dunk on NFL teams but rather, “to highlight positive clubs, identify areas that could use improvement, and highlight best practices and standards.”
This story will be updated.
Broncos NFLPA report card
| Category | Grade | Rank | 2023 Grade/Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment of Families | D+ | 21 | D+ (24) |
| Food/Cafeteria | B | 10 | D (22) |
| Nutritionist/Dietician | B+ | 7 | N/A |
| Locker room | D | 26 | D+ (22) |
| Training room | B- | 17 | C+ (17) |
| Training staff | B | 11 | B (28) |
| Weight room | B | 19 | B+ (13) |
| Strength coaches | C | 30 | A- (17) |
| Team travel | B- | 10 | B+ (12) |
| Head coach | A- | 17 | N/A |
| Ownership | A- | 5 | N/A |
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