DOD & Army National Guard pay NFL teams to honor soldiers during games

[soxhop411]

 
TRENTON — When the Jets paused to honor soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard at home games during the past four years, it was more than a heartfelt salute to the military — it was also worth a good stack of taxpayer money, records show.
The Department of Defense and the Jersey Guard paid the Jets a total of $377,000 from 2011 to 2014 for the salutes and other advertising, according to federal contracts. Overall, the Defense Department has paid 14 NFL teams $5.4 million during that time, of which $5.3 million was paid by the National Guard to 11 teams under similar contracts.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who routinely posts examples of what he calls wasteful spending, called out the Jets' agreement as wasteful and disingenuous.
"Those of us go to sporting events and see them honoring the heroes," Flake said in an interview. "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."
The agreement includes the Hometown Hero segment, in which the Jets feature a soldier or two on the big screen, announce their names and ask the crowd to thank them for their service. The soldiers and three friends also get seats in the Coaches Club for the game.
"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."
Aside from the Hometown Heroes segment, the agreements also included advertising and marketing services, including a kickoff video message from the Guard, digital advertising on stadium screens, online advertising and meeting space for a meeting or events.
Also, soldiers attended the annual kickoff lunch in New York City to meet and take pictures with the players for promotional use, and the Jets allowed soldiers to participate in a charity event in which coaches and players build or rebuild a playground or park.
The Jets also provided game access passes.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/taxpayers_pony_up_for_jets_salutes_to_nj_national.html
 
more at the link

 

[steveluck7]

Patriots are responsible for this, i'm certain

 

[DJnVa]

God dammit Brady.

 

[pappymojo]

That explains why they drafted that long snapper!

 

[Harry Hooper]

So were they paying MLB teams too for those "salute to veterans" moments on top of the dugout?

 

[bakahump]

That explains why they drafted that long snapper!

"So Bill....if you Draft this guy.....we can cut you a check or....how would you like an island."

 

[Norm Siebern]

Oh the humanity. Patriots should forfeit a first round and give it to the Colts.

 

[StatGeekNY]

I know some teams (ahem, St. Louis Cardinals)charge people who want to sing the anthem, and I find that pretty shady, but this is reprehensible. The videos and advertising, ok maybe. But the hometown heroes thing? Ghetto.

I don't know if they announce this at games, but we have a family friend being recognized with the dugout thing this season (WWII vet, ex POW) and they told us it is sponsored by John Hancock. So someone is paying for his tickets, but it's not the taxpayers.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/taxpayers_pony_up_for_jets_salutes_to_nj_national.html
 
more at the link

#thanksbrady

 

[dbn]

It's more likely than not that Obama, and/or Belichick, were generally aware of this.

 

[smastroyin]

I don't know. Is it unseemly that the armed forces spend so much on advertising during the season? That's essentially what this is. Maybe this senator is the rare R that would actually cut back the armed forces, but I doubt it. Seems like an odd expose.

 

[Reverend]

I don't know. Is it unseemly that the armed forces spend so much on advertising during the season? That's essentially what this is. Maybe this senator is the rare R that would actually cut back the armed forces, but I doubt it. Seems like an odd expose.

 
The head of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association posted this article on Facebook. Excerpt:
 

The emotional hiccup happens when the ad is presented as content. If you're the type of person who feels something positive while Petty Officer Binotz waves on the JumboTron, you probably don't mind if that moment has a stated corporate sponsor. You might not even notice it.
 
But when that moment is quietly paid for by the military, it becomes disingenuous. Without transparency, the moment is false. (It was always staged, but the intent was honest enough). In this case, the fans are unwittingly clapping for a commercial that they themselves funded. It's the difference between bullshit and an outright lie: we'll cry at the puppy selling us Budweiser, just don't try to convince us it's a one-minute documentary about canine-equine friendship. When the hero you're clapping for is just an ad, it may as well be an actor in that uniform.
 

 

[Section15Box113]

Patriots are responsible for this, i'm certain

 
And, here we go.

Report: Patriots paid $675K by National Guard for marketing, advertising
 

 
The New England Patriots received $675,000 through contracts from the Army National Guard to conduct a variety of events, including honoring Guard soldiers during halftime shows, a new report from a bipartisan group of U.S. senators said.

Over the last three years, the National Guard paid NFL teams nearly $7 million for marketing and advertising contracts.

According to the report released by Sen. John McCain's office, R-Arizona, the Patriots agreement included the team's "True Patriot" promotion, in which the team honored Guard troops during home game half-time shows.

The report says the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Guard paid the Patriots $225,000 in 2014 and $675,000 over the past three years.

A spokesperson for the Patriots was investigating the matter, but was not able to immediately comment.

 
Question for the group: who is the first national talking head to cite this further evidence of a "pattern of behavior" by the Patriots? 
 
Ridiculous in my book, but someone will.
 
After all, if the $7 million was spread evenly across all franchises, each team would have received approximately $219K.  Instead, New England received **nearly three times that amount.**  :unsure2:
 
 
 
Edit: updated with link

 

[ifmanis5]

Goodell admits mistake: http://abcnews.go.com/US/nfl-admits-700k-taxpayer-funds-military-tributes/story?id=39232210