Dallas, TX
How Dallas Cowboy and Houston Texan players graded their organizations
SAN ANTONIO – What does it take to win a Super Bowl?
It takes a lot of really good players, a coaching staff that can bring out the best in those players and an organization willing to pay for bringing in good players and good coaches.
The Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans have one thing in common this century: neither franchise has won or been on the doorstep of playing in a Super Bowl.
Despite the lack of on-field success, how do players rate their experiences playing for the Cowboys and Texans? Surprisingly, pretty well.
Report cards? What is this, grade school?
The National Football League Players Association released its second-ever team report cards for the 2023 season on Wednesday. According to NFLPA president and Cleveland Browns center J.C. Tretter, the report cards serve as a kind of “‘Free Agency Guide’ that would illuminate what the daily experience is for players and their families at each team.”
Response for last year’s report cards was modest. Tretter said more than 1,300 players, or approximately 60% of the league, participated in the survey. The team surveys seemingly made a positive impact league-wide because 1,706 active players, or 77% of the league, filled out responses this year.
The players evaluated their own organization by several key factors: its treatment of players’ families, food/cafeteria quality, nutritionist/dietician quality, locker room conditions, training room conditions, weight room conditions, training staff capabilities, quality of the team’s strength coaches, travel accommodations, quality of each head coach and quality of each owner.
Each player assigned a letter grade ranging from an A+ grade, indicating the very best a team has to offer, to an F- grade, indicating the very worst a team has to offer.
How did the Dallas Cowboys do?
Owner Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys may seem like they only care about keeping a moderately good football team in the headlines, but this year’s survey indicates that, for the most part, Cowboy players like playing for the Cowboys.
Dallas checked in at No. 12 overall out of 32 in the survey. Players highlighted the team’s facilities (locker room: A; weight room: A) and head coach Mike McCarthy (grade A) as a person players enjoy playing for. They also indicated how well the organization treats players’ families (grade A-), the quality of its strength coaches (grade B+) and how food and dieting best suits each player (food/cafeteria quality: B, nutritionist/dietician: B).
Cowboys weren’t exactly enthusiastic about everything the team provided. Two areas in need of serious improvement are the organization’s training room (grade C-) and training staff, whose D+ grade is tough to stomach. According to the survey, only 62% of Cowboy respondents felt they received enough one-on-one treatment from the training staff.
Traveling on the road appears to be another headache for Cowboy players. Only 72% of players felt they had “a comfortable amount of personal space during flights,” the survey said. Additionally, the Cowboys are one of seven NFL teams that require some players to have roommates the night before a game.
Dallas lost all five of its regular season games on the road in 2023. Maybe there’s a connection here.
How did the Houston Texans do?
The start of the 2020s did anything but roar for the Houston Texans, who rolled off an impressively futile run of four different head coaches in the first three seasons of the decade.
However, it looks like the franchise may be turning a corner. The Texans hired DeMeco Ryans to be its head coach, drafted a quarterback in C.J. Stroud who might be on the verge of superstardom and qualified for the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs this past season.
Based on the survey, the Texans came in at No. 7 overall out of 32 teams. Players offered rave reviews of the team’s cafeteria food (grade A-) and dietary advice (grade A-). The survey said that the Texans are the only team in the NFL that “had every player feel they received an individualized plan from their dietician.”
The aforementioned Ryans, a former Houston Texan player, showed himself to be a cerebral coach players wouldn’t mind going into the trenches for (grade A-).
The training room and training staff were also a source of pride for players. Over 90% of players felt the team had enough full-time trainers, enough full-time physical therapists, enough hot tub space, enough cold tub space and received enough one-on-one treatment. One area for improvement: Players would like to see the team add a sauna and/or steam room, which according to the survey, are both “standard at nearly every other facility in the League.”
Texans players who responded to the survey did not grade any category listed as anything worse than a B-.
What the survey can do
There has been some positive organizational change caused by the NFLPA releasing its report card information to players and the public. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ overall grade was ranked 28th out of 32 last year, in part, due to players reporting a rat infestation at EverBank Stadium, the team’s home stadium. This year, the Jaguars’ grade jumped to fifth overall after the team upgraded its facilities over the last calendar year.
On the other hand, great on-field success isn’t always the best indicator of a well-run organization. Players ranked the Kansas City Chiefs, who earlier this month won their third Super Bowl title in the last five years, 31st overall out of 32. According to the survey, head coach Andy Reid was voted as the lone positive while players lamented the team’s lack of “quality care” and “out-of-date facilities.”
If the survey is teaching a lesson, the lesson is: What you see might not be what you get.
A full list of letter grades and rankings for each NFL team can be found here.
Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
FRISCO, Texas – Nine-time Pro Bowler Zach Martin has officially retired.
The Dallas Cowboys guard reflected on his football career on Wednesday and thanked everyone who helped him along the way.
Martin is retiring as one of the most decorated players in franchise history.
Eleven years ago, Cowboys Vice President Stephen Jones convinced his father, Jerry, to draft Martin over quarterback Johnny Manziel. It was the right choice.
The offensive lineman from Notre Dame went on to become a Cowboys legend.
Only Cowboys Hall of Famers Bob Lilly and Randy White were also named first-team All-Pro players seven times.
Martin said his only regret is that he never got to hoist the Lombardi Trophy with his teammates.
“But I am incredibly proud of the road we traveled and everything we accomplished along the way. I hope I left as much of an impression on this organization as it did on me. There’s a deep sense of pride in knowing I gave everything to one team, one city, one team, one organization my entire career,” he said.
Former teammate Tony Romo, who attended Martin’s retirement celebration at The Star, said even as a rookie, Martin was one of the best linemen he’s ever played with.
Martin will be eligible for Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration in 2029.
The Dallas Mavericks hit the road to play the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, a rematch after these teams just played in Dallas on Saturday. The Bucks won that matchup, and Dallas already looks vastly different than they did in that game. Kyrie Irving tore his ACL and Jaden Hardy sprained his ankle on Monday night, adding to a lengthy injury report.
It might be easier to list who actually was available for the Mavericks, but here’s who they were missing: Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Dante Exum, Jaden Hardy, Caleb Martin, and Kai Jones.
With that many players out, Dallas started Spencer Dinwiddie, Max Christie, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Dwight Powell, the 33rd different starting lineup of the season. Milwaukee started Damian Lillard, Taurean Prince, Kyle Kuzma, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez.
READ MORE: Mavericks coach Jason Kidd blasts media’s ‘wrong’ reporting of Kyrie Irving’s season-ending injury
It was an admirable start for the depleted Mavericks. Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combining for Milwaukee’s first 20 points, Dallas was hanging around thanks to 9 early points from Klay Thompson. But after the game was tied at 16, Milwaukee went on an 18-3 run to take a stranglehold of the game.
Dallas scored six straight points to get the lead back to 10, but they couldn’t get any stops. Kyle Kuzma scored the last seven points of the half for Milwaukee, and they’d take a 43-30 lead into the second quarter.
Max Christie and Brandon Williams helped bring Milwaukee’s advantage down to six again, but then the Bucks reinserted Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard and took off again. Those two continued to terrorize the Mavericks, shooting the ball very efficiently and spreading the ball around to open shooters, allowing the Bucks to shoot 63% from the floor in the first half.
Giannis had 26 points and Damian Lillard had 20, allowing the Bucks to take a 72-53 lead into halftime. Dallas’ offense was playing fine, but they had no rim protection against a team you desperately need it.
READ MORE: Kevin Durant delivers emotional response about Kyrie Irving’s season-ending injury
The third quarter was more of the same, as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard continued to torch the Mavs. Giannis crossed the 20,000 career points mark in the third quarter, but he and Lillard crossed 30 points for the game before the end of the third quarter as the Bucks crossed the century mark with three minutes to go in the frame.
Dallas was still scoring somewhat, as Naji Marshall scored nine points in a row before the end of the quarter, but Milwaukee still had a 106-79 lead heading into the fourth.
There wouldn’t be any unnecessary drama in the fourth quarter, as the Bucks emptied the bench, and went on to win 137-107.
Klay Thompson led the Mavericks with 28 points, but he attempted a season-high 27 shots to get there. Naji Marshall (22 points, 10 rebounds, a few of those points came well into garbage time), Brandon Williams (14 points), and Max Christie (13 points) were also in double figures.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard were incredible for the Bucks, with Giannis putting up 32 points and 15 rebounds on 13/20 shooting, and Lillard had 34 points on 11/15 shooting, including 5/8 from three. Kevin Porter Jr. had a triple-double off the bench, which made me have to triple-check the stat sheet, finishing with 10 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds. AJ Green (18 points, 6/9 three-point shooting), Kyle Kuzma (17 points), and Jericho Sims (10 points) were also in double figures.
Dallas returns home to play the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
READ MORE: Former Maverick Luka Doncic assists Lakers’ LeBron James for historic milestone
Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2024-25 Season
Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter
FIFA says the Dallas Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center will host the International Broadcast Center for all FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.
The announcement was confirmed Wednesday at Dallas City Hall and marks the second time the city has hosted the IBC. Dallas last hosted the IBC in Fair Park during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
I’m honored to be with you all today. On behalf of FIFA and FIFA World Cup 26, it’s an absolute pleasure to confirm that Dallas and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center will serve as the International Broadcast Center for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Amy Hopfinger, chief business and strategy officer with FIFA World Cup 26
The IBC is a global broadcast operations center for all 104 matches of the tournament in 16 North American cities, including Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
From January 2026 to August 2026, the IBC will be the nerve center for TV, radio, and new media operations and will house about 2,000 broadcast media representatives.
“Hosting the IBC is a tremendous honor. I still today hear about 1994, hosting that IBC at Fair Park, and the experiences that volunteers had and the people from all over the world that they had a chance to meet,” said Monica Paul, president, North Texas FIFA World Cup 26 Organizing Committee. “I really hope we take this opportunity in 2026 and really show these broadcasters and media why we love Dallas, why we call this place home so they can share that across the world with people in their countries.”
The facility will span 485,000 square feet and ensure seamless coverage of the tournament, reaching billions of fans worldwide. It will serve as the headquarters for FIFA’s host broadcaster, media partners, FIFA content production, and football technology.
“Hosting thousands of professionals for seven months is no small task,” Hopfinger said. “The IBC will offer a range of services for individuals helping to take this groundbreaking tournament, the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, to over 200 countries worldwide.
In addition to hosting broadcast operations, the IBC will provide wraparound services to help those covering the games, including a 24-hour cafe, express shipping services, banking, and dry cleaning.
Paul and Hopfinger were joined Wednesday by Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson, Zarin Gracey, council member/chair ad hoc committee on professional sports recruitment and retention, City of Dallas, Jesse Moreno, Dallas City Council Member District 2 and Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert.
Game Preview | #18 Purdue at Illinois | Boilers set eyes on double bye
NCAA Tournament bubble watch: OSU-Indiana looms large, UNC faces win-and-in game
Iowa State women’s basketball: Addy Brown’s career night lifts Cyclones over Arizona State
Brian Platt suspended with pay from city manager position
'Never alone:' Kentucky marks five years since its first reported case of COVID-19
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Federal Workers Who Were Fired and Rehired by the Trump Administration
Trump FDA nominee turns vaccine question on Dem, recalling controversial Biden decision
Trump again spreads baseless claims about Trudeau, Canada’s election
Steve Carell announces that a charity will fund proms for students affected by LA fires
Who Paid for Trump’s Transition to Power? The Donors Are Still Unknown.
-
Sports1 week agoNHL trade board 7.0: The 4 Nations break is over, and things are about to get real
-
News1 week agoJustice Dept. Takes Broad View of Trump’s Jan. 6 Pardons
-
World1 week agoHamas says deal reached with Israel to release more than 600 Palestinians
-
Science1 week agoKilling 166 million birds hasn’t helped poultry farmers stop H5N1. Is there a better way?
-
News1 week agoChristianity’s Decline in U.S. Appears to Have Halted, Major Study Shows
-
World1 week agoGermany's Merz ‘resolute and determined,' former EU chief Barroso says
-
Technology1 week agoMicrosoft makes Copilot Voice and Think Deeper free with unlimited use
-
Sports1 week agoTimberwolves erase 25-point deficit to defeat Thunder 131-128 in overtime