NFL Charged Pentagon Millions To Honor Troops During Games
Honoring the troops is an integral part of every athletic competition in America. For me, it has always been the most heartwarming, meaningful part of any game. As I stood and clapped for a wounded soldier waving at the crowd, his mother tearing up and beaming with pride, I took great solace in believing I lived somewhere that, despite its reliance on capitalism, was willing to honor these brave heroes free of charge. But I was wrong.
As it turns out, the NFL has raked in millions over the past three years capitalizing on our nation’s respect for those who defend it. Often times, when we stand and clap for a wounded soldier on a jumbo screen or for a procession of uniformed men on the field, the Pentagon has dished out a pretty penny to make the tribute happen.
According to Mother Jones, the Department of Defense shelled out over $5.4 million to 14 NFL teams between 2011 and 2014. The biggest winners being the Atlanta Falcons, who made over $1 million, and the Baltimore Ravens, who made $885,000. In return, the spectators were permitted to pay homage to the soldiers. Keep in mind, taxpayers are the ones who fill the DoD budget, which means we are paying money to pay tribute to our men in uniform.
“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.”
I realize that this is a relatively small amount for a Department of Defense with a budget so overwhelmingly high that it doles out $84.2 million in boner pills every year, but I ask you, Roger Goodell, where do we draw the line when it comes to making a quick buck? I say draw it right around honoring the men who give you the freedom to sit on your ass and make money off of their sympathy.
[via Mother Jones]
Roger Goodell is a sack of shit.
11 years ago at 9:35 amIt’s worth pointing out it was the teams that took the money. Those front offices should be ashamed
11 years ago at 2:52 pmHe has the power to stop all of it, though. But I agree with you
11 years ago at 6:47 pmFuck them and fuck him
11 years ago at 7:33 pmThat fuck makes $44 million a year for this shit
11 years ago at 7:36 pmIt would be okay to pay… If part of the tribute was the soldiers getting to punch Goddell in the face.
11 years ago at 9:37 amMaking money off of those who would die and sacrifice everything for you. TCommieM.
11 years ago at 9:38 amMaking money …. TcapitalismM
11 years ago at 12:15 pmOff topic Mr. Goliad but Shiner Bock is the greatest beer known to man, I approve of everything you stand for
11 years ago at 3:58 pmIf you don’t stand behind the troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
11 years ago at 9:38 amThey also dont have to pay taxes with their status as a non profit…which is a giant load of bullshit to pretend the nfl isnt profiting.
11 years ago at 9:40 amWhere do they get off..sitting up there on their high horse collecting millions and yelling at Adrian Peterson for spanking his kids
He didn’t “spank his kids.” He beat a 4 year old with a switch so bad it cut open his scrotum. He also left deep lashes on his legs. The pictures were published. Guy is a piece of shit to do that to a four year old.
11 years ago at 10:10 amDid the 4 year old have it coming???
11 years ago at 10:59 amDid the 4 year old have Dorn cumming?
11 years ago at 11:57 amIndividual teams are NOT non-profits, with the exception of the Green Bay Packers. Only the league office had non-profit status. The teams are franchises that pay taxes. And the league office recently announced they’ll be giving up their non-profit status. Not that it’ll make a difference in regards to tax revenues, as they don’t have a substantial amount of income anyway.
11 years ago at 10:30 amWhat a bunch of shit, hopefully the bad press from this will result in the NFL donating these profits to a charity supporting our veterans.
11 years ago at 9:41 amFire Goodell. This is just ridiculous for doing this then also suspending Brady for 4 games when Rice got suspended for two before the video got leaked. Get real
11 years ago at 9:43 amI’m not sure what disappoints me more..the fact that the NFL, a multi-billion organization that’s exempt from paying taxes, charged the pentagon, or that the pentagon agreed to dish out for that powertripping cumbucket.
11 years ago at 9:50 amExcept the NFL isn’t a multi-billion dollar organization. Each team is its own entity, none of which are nonprofits except for the Green Bay Packers. The league office had nonprofit status for many years, but recently announced they’ll be surrendering that. Even that is not going to make a huge difference in tax revenues, as the league office doesn’t make a lot of money.
11 years ago at 10:32 amThe pentagon would have jumped at the chance for the exposure. Its free advertising. “Look at these brave men and women here who served their country. Applaud them. Aren’t they beacons in the community? You can be one too! Army Strong!” etc etc.
11 years ago at 1:34 pmCheap* advertising.
11 years ago at 1:35 pmGoodell is the type of guy to stand outside his niece’s pee-wee soccer game and charge admission.
11 years ago at 9:52 amYou won’t hear anything good about him out here in chi-town
11 years ago at 6:57 amI’m glad Goodell got booed during the draft
11 years ago at 10:03 am