The NFL had its report cards from the Players Association leaked in late February. This was after it was announced that the NFL would no longer publicly release these report cards.

The Indianapolis Colts were ranked No.17 out of 32 teams. An average result for an average season.

The NFLPA was established in 1956 as a way for players to address their grievances with the league. It began doing report cards in 2023 as a way to provide information on individual clubs. In a letter from then-President JC Tretter, the report cards were meant to be information players could use when deciding which team they wanted to go to. These reports are meant to highlight both successes and failures.

These report cards are voted on by players who rate various aspects of organizations. The NFLPA releases them to the public after the season is over, so both athletes and fans have access. This year, however, the NFL protested this.

In February, it was announced that the NFL won its grievance that was filed in August for the report cards not to be released. The NFL stated that the report cards were disparaging to teams and relied on undisclosed methodologies. Players quoted in this article supported the report cards and their release. The NFLPA still had players do them, with

Despite the NFL's victory, the results were obtained and leaked by ESPN and published on Feb. 26. Rather than the NFLPA releasing them directly, media outlets were able to obtain the information and release it themselves. The NFL did itself a disservice by fighting this. Players vote on these, so it is a way to get information directly from the source. Yes, some organizations receive backlash, but it gives them places to start when looking to improve. It makes it seem like there is something to hide because it is so adamantly against releasing the results of something.

For the Indianapolis Colts, the report card reflected the essence of the team. The lowest grade received was a ‘D’ for the home field quality. There were mostly ‘B’ ratings for the rest of the categories, with some ownership receiving ‘A’ grades. This was somewhat surprising given the lack of success they have had over the years. The Colts were ranked overall in the middle of the group, which reflects the average season the club had, ending 8-9 and not making the playoffs.

The field being the worst issue is a good thing. That is something that can easily be fixed compared to something like the coaching staff. Though it may need to be fixed from the fan perspective, the players are content. There is nothing these report cards can do to change an organization other than highlighting perceived disparities from the players. It does not guarantee a team will change something or give an advantage to others. It is a vote by the players themselves and reflects how they view their organizations.

Regarding the Colts, it gives some relatively easy places to improve players' lives. Replacing a field and locker room are tangible goals that can come from this report. It shows that there is room for improvement, but players are satisfied with the experience there. The team achieved a better ranking than many other successful programs, such as the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles. The Miami Dolphins were ranked No.1 overall and had a 7-10 record.

These report cards do little to reflect the true success of an organization, and there is no reason for the NFL not to release them. It gives players a look into how other players view their clubs and fans a glimpse into their world. It was not shocking to see where the Colts placed, but it is helpful in giving possible areas to look into improving.