Bombers score well above average on CFLPA report cards

The CFL Players’ Association released their second annual team report cards Wednesday afternoon and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers scored well above average.

The CFLPA distrbuted a 78-question survey to all players and 381 responded. The survey included multiple choice, rating and open-ended questions on 10 different categories related to their workplace environment.

“It’s not always an easy exercise, but I know the guys are happy to have a voice especially when they know that change is being made,” CFLPA executive director David Mackie told the Free Press.

“And then, guys are just happier within the club and that’s what’s important. You want guys happy to show up and if the working conditions improve, you’re ultimately going to get a better product on the field.”

Winnipeg’s highest mark was a B-plus in three categories: coaching staff, facilities and equipment, and therapy and medical staff. They scored a B in football operations, strength and conditioning, nutrition and diet, team travel, and treatment of families.

Last year, the Bombers were a C-plus in nutrition and diet and team travel.

“They have upgraded our travel, they have updated our eating area, they have upgraded our players lounge, they have added an additional athletic therapist,” wrote one Bomber.

“Our club provides babysitting during our home games, and post game food which is staffed after home games in our suites area,” wrote another.

Their two lowest scores came in business operations (B-minus) and training camp (C).

“We wore pads almost every single day of training camp as well as had zero days off in training camp,” another commented.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats scored the highest marks in the nine-team league with five As and five Bs.

“My club ranked highly last year and still elected to make improvements,” a player remarked anonymously about the Ticats. “This club is the class of the CFL and goes beyond the call of duty.”

The B.C. Lions (nutrition and diet) and the Montreal Alouettes (treatment of family) received the only Fs.

“Small meals on the plane after the game. The overall nutrition of our team is very below par and what it should be for a professional football team,” said a player on the Lions.

“This needs major improvement. Nutrition is 99 per cent on the players here.”

“Family support and treatment on gameday is nonexistent and in my opinion needs the most improvement of any category,” wrote the Montreal player.

The biggest complaint around the league was the visiting team hotel in Edmonton: the Chateau Lacombe. According to the CFLPA, it was the issue that was commented on the most in this year’s survey.

“The hotel in Edmonton is unacceptable,” said one player.

The CFLPA again collaborated with Dr. Desmond McEwen, an assistant professor in sport psychology at the University of British Columbia. The union said the survey’s primary goals are to highlight teams that are setting positive examples and identify areas where improvement is needed.

The CFLPA is following in the footsteps of the NFL Players’ Association, which released its first team report cards in 2023.

— with Canadian Press files

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