In a survey by the players’ union NFLPA, the Arizona Cardinals as well as their facilities were sharply criticised. Some things were portrayed as “safety hazards”. The fans are going after owner Michael Bidwill, who is fighting back against the accusations.

The NFLPA conducted a survey of around 1,300 players last season. The purpose was to evaluate respective teams based on soft location factors. How good are the weight rooms, how comfortable is travelling to away games, how good are the physiotherapists?

On Wednesday, the NFL players’ union published the results – the Arizona Cardinals ranked second to last. Only the Washington Commanders were rated worse overall.

No KiTa, players pay for lunch

Overall, each team received a grade from A+ to F- in the categories of family support, nutrition, weight room, strength coaches, training facilities, coaching staff, travel comfort and cabin. The Cardinals received a grade of F or F- in every category except coaching staff and away travel.

According to the report, the Cardinals are only one of eleven teams in the league not to have a day care centre to look after the offspring of players or coaches. Not even a play corner is said to exist.

If players want to eat at the Cards’ facilities, the tab is deducted from their salaries. No other team in the league handles it this way.

Power rooms as “security risk “

The training facilities in Glendale, in particular, got their comeuppance with the players.

According to the report, almost all of the players in attendance agreed that the facilities were in “deplorable” condition.

It is a “health and safety risk to walk through the premises alone”. Apparently the floor is uneven and has significant defects.

Bidwill defends himself: “A lot is imprecise “

Thereupon there was a wave of criticism for owner Michael Bidwill. Even before that, however, he refused to be drawn on the criticism: “A lot of it is inaccurate,” said the businessman, even before the results of the survey were published.

“Two weeks ago Jonathan was here with the Philadelphia Eagles after all, he liked the facilities,” Bidwill said somewhat defiantly.

However, he also admitted: “It’s clear that we are always thinking about improvements. Not just in terms of our football team, but everything around it. “

The NFLPA’s survey was conducted for the first time and is designed to better prepare free agents for what to expect with a new team. So maybe this release didn’t do the Cardinals any favors.