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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Complaints about food, roommates, and a lack of first-class seats pushed the Indianapolis Colts to the middle of the pack of an NFL Players Association survey.

The survey, released Wednesday as the NFL Combine was set to begin in Indianapolis, ranked the Colts 16th out of 32 NFL teams.

The survey, based on anonymous responses from about 1,300 NFL players, judged teams on eight different categories, ranging from team travel and treatment of families to food service/nutrition.

Indianapolis Colts rankings in NFLPA survey

“The two main issues that players have are the food – so much that some players prefer to pack their own lunch rather than eat at the facility – and the feeling that the team should significantly improve its travel policies for players,” the NFLPA study reported. “They are one of seven teams that do not offer first-class seats to their players (reserving them for coaches and staff instead), and one of six teams that force many players to have roommates.”

The survey also noted that Colts players generally “feel well-supported by their team’s owner, Jim Irsay, as 97% of player respondents believe he is willing to spend the money necessary to upgrade the facility.”

The Colts tied for first overall in the survey for Training Staff. 

“The players spoke very highly of their training staff. They believe they go above and beyond for the locker room and they significantly add to their individual success,” the NFLPA report noted.

NFLPA president JC Tretter insisted the survey isn’t meant to shame teams. 

Tretter told the Associated Press the survey is intended to highlight teams that treat players and those that need to improve by highlighting the best practices and standards. 

“I think the recommendations will be fairly clear when they read the reports,” Tretter said. “There’s not much lost in translation.”

The Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders were the top three teams while the bottom three were the Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders.

Other findings include:

The full report/rankings can be found on NFLPA.com

The Colts report card can be found online.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Colts leading receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will not play in Jacksonville Sunday after injuring his quad in practice this week. He was limited Friday and officially ruled out Saturday. Pittman led the Colts in Houston last week with 121 yards and a touchdown against the Texans.

Head coach Frank Reich said Friday he wasn’t exactly sure how Pittman’s injury happened.

“He just came out to practice on Wednesday and felt something on Wednesday that he didn’t feel after the game or anything like that. It was like, ‘Well, what the heck is going on here?’ So, took him out of practice mainly as a precaution. So whether it came from a hit from the game or whether it came from a little strain or something early in practice – really not sure to be honest with you,” Reich said.

This will be a major blow to an already young Colts receiving corps, who will also be missing rookie Alec Pierce (concussion) against the Jags.

In light of this, the Colts have elevated receiver Keke Coutee from the practice squad to help the struggling position group. Coutee played in two games for the Colts last season, catching one target for five yards. He’s racked up 946 receiving yards after four seasons in the league.

The Colts look to break a seven-game losing streak on the road against Jacksonville Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Sunshine State.

Members of the Indianapolis Colts made the rounds today to surprise and thank essential workers and first responders.

Colts cheerleaders and the team mascot, Blue, delivered meals and other fun items. This was all part of the team’s fan appreciation week.

They also delivered meals to firefighters, IndyGo staff and IU Health University Hospital.

WISH-TV’s Amber Hankins was there for one of the surprises.

Watch the video above for more on this story.

Tonight downtown, WISH-TV Colts Player Analyst Carson Wentz is embarking on an important new mission.

This goes well beyond what he’s doing for the football field.

With his leadership, Indianapolis got its debut of the ‘Thy Kingdom Crumb’ food truck which will serve the less fortunate in Central Indiana with free meals.

WISH-TV’s Charlie Clifford joined him downtown today to get all of the details.

Have you ever wanted to look just like your favorite Indianapolis Colts player?! You’re in luck, the Colts have partnered with Nike to launch the Indianapolis Colts Nike Sideline products. Erika Austin, senior marketing manager for the Indianapolis Colts, joined us today on Indy Style to tell us more.

This performance polo and performance tee are exactly what Colts coaches and players wear on game days and for practices. This is perfect for the Colts fan who wants to look AND feel like a real part of the team!

Austin let us know that there is more Colts merchandise available, for the fan who wants to wear attire to the game or the office! The Colts are also partaking in Crucial Catch Intercept Cancer, a league-wide initiative to support cancer awareness. There is an entire line of merchandise to support this effort!

You can shop Colts merchandise here. You can watch The Indianapolis Colts take on the Baltimore Ravens tonight at 8 p.m. on WISH-TV!

Calling all female Colts fans! The Blue Ladies offers a unique experience you can’t find anywhere else. Kelsey Kirby, a member of the Blue Ladies, joined us on Indy Style to tell us more!

Blue Ladies members will receive a personalized membership kit, invitations to attend private members-only events, volunteer opportunities and much more! 

Kirby also told us more about the Colts Kids Club, which provides members a behind-the-scenes look at the Indianapolis Colts! Members ages 4-14 will receive a personalized membership kit, newsletters, and invitations to exclusive Kids Club events.

We even have a special discount code for new members! Enter code INDYSTYLE21 at checkout to earn $5 off Kids Club and $10 off Blue Ladies.

You can learn more about the Colts Blue Ladies here and the Colts Kids Club here.

HotBox Pizza is saving Indiana from pizza mediocrity. This locally owned, locally loved pizza restaurant is partnering with the Indianapolis Colts for the first time this year! Samantha Peterson, director of marketing and community engagement at HotBox, and catering director Jillian Hedges joined us today on Indy Style.

As the official pizza of the Indianapolis Colts, HotBox pizza will be served at Lucas Oil Stadium on game days.

Peterson told us HotBox has X locations around Central Indiana and is available for catering. The Porky Pig pizza is their most popular pizza! They also brought some salads and brownie pizza for us to try.

Also, any time the Colts get a sack during any game this season, you can get a free stix with your purchase the following day!

You can learn more about HotBox Pizza here.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — From slides, to swings, monkey bars, too — recess is about to look quite different for some students in Indianapolis.

This morning, more than 150 volunteers from the Indianapolis Colts and their community partners helped build a new playground for Sankofa School of Success #99.

Indy Style’s Amber Hankins took us there today.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — From slides, to swings, monkey bars, too — recess is about to look quite different for some students in Indianapolis.

This morning, more than 150 volunteers from the Indianapolis Colts and their community partners helped build a new playground for Sankofa School of Success #99.

Indy Style’s Amber Hankins took us there today.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Colts celebrated “Fan Appreciation Week” differently in 2020 ahead of the team’s final home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This year, the football team wanted to honor front-line heroes in the community.

Colts cheerleaders and the mascot Blue drove to several locations in the city to surprise essential workers and first responders with gifts from the team in advance of Sunday’s game that will be limited to 10,000 fans due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re missing seeing 65,000 Colts fans at Lucas Oil Stadium, but being able to do these special visits just reminds us that just because our fans aren’t able to all be inside Lucas Oil stadium Colts pride still reigns strong here in Indianapolis,” Colts Event Manager, Chelsea Durham, said.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indianapolis Fire Department and health care workers at IU Health Hospital were among those honored.

The team gave away Colts gear, gift cards to restaurants and more.

Coronavirus links

Indiana coronavirus timeline

With information from the Indiana Department of Health through March 4, 2021, this timeline reflects updated tallies of deaths and positive tests prior to that date.