US Defense Department paid 14 NFL teams $5.4M to honor soldiers
The waving of the red, white and blue, comes with a healthy dose of green. According to Christopher Baxter and Jonathan Salant of NJ.com, the New Jersey Army National Guard and the Department of Defense, paid the Jets a total of $377,000 from 2011 to 2014, for their salutes and other advertising, citing federal contracts. [1]
The NFL does just about everything it can to align itself with the military, whether that means discussing itself using the terms of warfare, or making overt displays of respect to those who have served in the armed forces. Of course, this is hardly a magnanimous gesture — it serves as positive PR for a league that frequently takes harsh criticism on a host of other issues. [2]
“Promoting and increasing the public’s understanding and appreciation of military service in the New Jersey Army National Guard increases the propensity for service in our ranks and garners public support for our Hometown Team,” Guard spokesman Patrick Daugherty said. According to their documents, the Defense Department has paid 14 NFL teams $5.4 million over the past four seasons for the patriotic displays.[3]
“Those of us go to sporting events and see them honoring the heroes,” U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said. “You get a good feeling in your heart. Then to find out they’re doing it because they’re compensated for it, it leaves you underwhelmed. It seems a little unseemly. . . .”
“They realize the public believes they’re doing it as a public service or a sense of patriotism,” Flake said. “It leaves a bad taste in your mouth”. The deals include segments saluting “Hometown Heroes,” and other advertising and marketing.
The Jets weren’t the only team accepting tax dollars in exchange for access to football, as the Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Cowboys, Packers, Colts, Chiefs, Dolphins, Vikings, Steelers and Rams have also accepted the money.
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