The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be an interesting offseason as they’re trying to extend the surprising championship window they find themselves in. They are doing their best to keep Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans in Tampa, though they’re not having the easiest time in getting them signed.
While the main reason for Mayfield and Evans not re-signing with the team has to do with their expected salaries, the way the organization is being run may also have an effect. The NFLPA released a report card on all 32 franchises, and the Buccaneers aren’t getting great optics with the latest report.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to improve their operations after getting terrible NFLPA grades
The organization released its most recent report card on the franchise’s ability to run operations this year. The Buccaneers’ report card contained scathing remarks on how the franchise has been run:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finish the year ranked 24th overall; the ranking could have been lower if the staff had not earned high marks among respondents. The dietician, training staff and strength coaches all received solid grades from the players.
The facilities in question were especially highlighted:
The players described the locker room as “unclean” and “smelly,” and they even cited seeing bugs consistently in the showers. Respondents also described the team sauna as “dirty,” “small” and “broken down.” Younger players must have roommates on work travel, unless they pay the team more than $1,750 for their own room each season. They do have a daycare room on gamedays, but charge players’ families $90 per child, which most other teams offer for free.
They ended the overview of their report card with a statement that was aimed more at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers owners—the Glazers—than anyone else:
Outdated facilities are one thing, but providing clean showers and workspaces, and not charging players to have their own hotel room on work trips should be basic standards for a multi-billion-dollar professional sports enterprise.
The team immediately came forward with a statement that reaffirmed their commitment to providing the best conditions for players to focus on their craft on the field.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Organizational Statement Regarding the NFLPA’s 2024 Report Card pic.twitter.com/sCS5dJRQDA
— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) February 29, 2024
Will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers change their ways?
The owners’ mentality toward improving the team should be good for any significant upgrades to be made. However, the NFLPA noted that it was clear that the Glazers aren’t interested in such things:
Club owner Joel Glazer ranks 29th across the league when it comes to the question about a perceived willingness to invest in the facilities, and the reason for assessment is reflected in the data collected across categories.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are being run the same way that Manchester United, the other major Glazer sporting asset, is being handled.
The way the Glazers have run a storied soccer team to the ground is well-documented, and they aren’t any closer to getting results on the soccer stadium despite the financial capability they have to purchase high-value targets.
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were going to experience any sort of improvement, they needed the Glazers to actually care about the team to improve matters. The fact that they appointed an investment banker as one of the top dogs at Manchester United should tell you all you need to know about how the Glazers look at sports.
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