The Pentagon paid 14 NFL teams $5.4 million to 'salute troops'
The Pentagon paid 14 NFL teams $5.4 million to 'salute troops'
Natasha Bertrand
May 12, 2015, 11:16 AM 17,976 10
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-pentagon-pays-the-nfl-millions-to-honor-veterans-at-games-2015-5?op=1
The NFL reportedly accepted millions of dollars from the defense department over the course of three years in exchange for honoring troops and veterans before games, the New Jersey Star Ledger reports.
The Pentagon reportedly signed contracts with 14 NFL teams including the New York Jets, the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens between 2011-2012 stipulating that teams would be paid sums ranging from $60,000-$1 million each (in federal taxpayer money) to pause before the start of games and salute the city's "hometown heroes," according to nj.com.
Agreements also include advertising on stadium screens and sideline 'Coaches Club' seats for soldiers.
Congress and the President recently imposed strict caps on military spending as part of an austere new budget.
The military has defended the funding it provides to the NFL, stating that it is an effective recruitment tool for soldiers.
"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," National Guard spokesman Patrick Daugherty told nj.com, referring to the $377,000 the Jets received from the Jersey Guard between 2011-2014.
nfl veteransOtto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesMembers of the Seattle Seahawks run onto the field during ceremonies honoring veterans prior to the game against the New York Jets at CenturyLink Field on November 11, 2012 in Seattle, Washington.
Other teams that received taxpayer funds include the Cincinnati Bengals ($138,960) Cleveland Browns ($22,500), the Green Bay Packers ($600,000), Pittsburgh Steelers, ($36,000) Minnesota Vikings ($605,000), Atlanta Falcons ($1,049,500), Buffalo Bills ($679,000), Dallas Cowboys ($62,500), Miami Dolphins ($20,000), and St. Louis Rams ($60,000), according to a nj.com breakdown.
New Jersey senator Joe Pennachhio has since called for the teams to donate the money to charity.
"If these teams want to really honor our veterans and service members they should be making these patriotic overtures out of gratitude for free," Pennachhio told nj.com. "And the millions of dollars that have already been billed to taxpayers should be donated to veterans' organizations."
The payments are being criticized by some who say that the practice is not only unethical, but also hypocritical citing a renewed focus on integrity and transparency, the NFL fined the New England Patriots $1 million and suspended Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for the team's alleged role in deflating footballs before games.
Many fans are aware that the NFL is a leading recruitment tool for the military the National Guard advertisements displayed on stadium screens are clearly sponsored content.
But few fans know that the defense department is funneling taxpayer money into the NFL in exchange for veteran tributes.
"The public believes they're doing it as a public service or a sense of patriotism," U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) told the Star Ledger. "It leaves a bad taste in your mouth."
niyad
(113,263 posts)avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)niyad
(113,263 posts)GitRDun
(1,846 posts)I guess taxpayer funded stadiums isn't enough.
Amazing how this crap goes on and yet politicians always seem to balance their budgets off our sick, elderly, students, and the poor.
leveymg
(36,418 posts)Who makes these spending decisions?
tgillentine
(1 post)How much is the defense dept paying Major League Baseball? It has got to be as much as the NFL. The baseball fans are SURELY aware that MLB is a leading recruitment tool for the military!
niyad
(113,263 posts)(if you google "pentagon pays major league baseball to salute the troops", the search results are disgustingly eye-opening.)
. . . .
Support the Troops: Is This an Ad?
If you find yourself at a professional sporting event this summer, theres a good chance that you might bear witness to some type of salute to the troops. And if you root, root, root for the home team, this may fill you with a sense of pride for your club. But would you feel the same way if you knew that your team received hundreds of thousands of dollars to stage the tribute?
A recent NJ.com report revealed that 16 NFL teams were collectively paid at least $6 million to honor American troops at games dating back to 2011. The football teams benefactor: The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens were among the highest paid teams, each receiving more than $800,000.
But its not just the NFL playing ball with the Pentagon. According to the CT Mirror, a Connecticut-based news site that covers government policy and politics, the Pentagon also has a number of advertising and promotion contracts with Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, NASCAR and Major League Soccer.
The NFL and Pentagon contend that the money goes to recruitment efforts, not tributes.
Nevertheless, many NFL fans were left scratching their heads when the news surfaced.
. . . .
https://www.truthinadvertising.org/support-the-troops-is-this-an-ad/
Ilsa
(61,694 posts)Of the recruiting center to make recruits feel better about joining the army.
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)I want to vomit. Not at the troops, but at such a colossal waste of taxpayer money. Ridiculous!!!
Uncle Joe
(58,349 posts)Thanks for the thread, marble falls.
marble falls
(57,077 posts)Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)"Dunno. Just salute, dammit."
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Who would have thought we'd behave like this. And,yet, there are those who accuse other countries of Propagandizing their Citizens always ignoring what we have been doing. I feel we've swung back to the "McCarthy Era" in so many ways....and now we have THIS.
Not enough to propagandize our MSM and silence voices with opposing opinions to the Think Tank spokepersons..but now paying NFL to honor Veterans for the wars we claim we've ended?