Sports loves to wrap themselves around the flag. The bigger the flag. The louder the flyovers. The weepier the salutes, the better. The NFL is certainly in the thick of this. As America’s most-popular professional sport, the league goes out of its way to promote their patriotism.
But what you may not know is that the NFL has been charging the Department of Defense for these military tributes. That’s right, they aren’t seen as a way to honor the military, but rather, it’s an advertisement tool for branches such as the National Guard where the lion’s share goes.
Over the last four years, the NFL has charged $6 million has gone to 16 clubs over 45 contracts to honor those in the military.
Now, members of Congress, including former Vietnam War POW, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) are going to vote on a proposal to ban taxpayer-financed salutes to troops. U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Dist.), calling it "paid-for patriotism," plans to bring up a similar measure during House debate on its version of the defense bill, which take place all day through Friday.
At a time when the NFL seems to have reached a new low in credibility, something new comes along to knock it down further. It would be bad enough that the league would be charging for the salutes. The men and women that serve the country get exploited far too much to begin with. But the idea that you and I as taxpayers are ultimately the ones putting money for these charged salutes and calling it advertisement may have redefined the word “greed”.
"It's crass," McCain said in an interview. "I want them to give the money back."
“Crass” may be an understatement.
The NFL saw gross revenues of $12 billion last year. Using a bad pun, maybe it’s not just revenues for the league that are “gross”.
Below shows where taxpayer dollars have gone for military salutes in the NFL via NJ.com
Military contracts with NFL teams
From 2011 to 2014, the Department of Defense paid at least $6 million to NFL teams for salutes to the military and other advertising, with most coming from the National Guard, according to federal contracts.
| Team | Contract # | Amount | Date | Department | Division |
| ATLANTA FALCONS FOOTBALL CLUB, LLC | W912JM11C0001 | $70,000 | 2/2/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| ATLANTA FALCONS FOOTBALL CLUB, LLC | W912JM11C0021 | $250,000 | 7/29/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| ATLANTA FALCONS FOOTBALL CLUB, LLC | W912JM13C0013 | $315,000 | 7/12/2013 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| ATLANTA FALCONS FOOTBALL CLUB, LLC | W912JM14P0131 | $114,500 | 8/5/2014 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| ATLANTA FALCONS FOOTBALL CLUB, LLC | W912JM12P0091 | $300,000 | 7/20/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| BALTIMORE RAVENS LP | W912K611P0170 | $85,000 | 1/4/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| BALTIMORE RAVENS LP | W912K613P0114 | $195,000 | 7/30/2013 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| BALTIMORE RAVENS LP | W912K613P0114 | $89,500 | 9/18/2013 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| BALTIMORE RAVENS LP | W912K612P0123 | $250,000 | 8/3/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| BALTIMORE RAVENS LP | W912K611P0170 | $265,000 | 9/9/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| BUFFALO BILLS, INC. | W912PQ13M0113 | $250,000 | 5/15/2013 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| BUFFALO BILLS, INC. | W912PQ14M0233 | $150,000 | 9/5/2014 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| BUFFALO BILLS, INC. | W912PQ12M0147 | $250,000 | 6/7/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| BUFFALO BILLS, INC. | FA448411P0134 | $29,000 | 9/21/2011 | Department of Defense | Air Force |
| CINCINNATI BENGALS, INC. | W9136412P0277 | $67,000 | 8/16/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| CINCINNATI BENGALS, INC. | FA448413P0049 | $4,960 | 9/24/2013 | Department of Defense | Air Force |
| CINCINNATI BENGALS, INC. | W9136411P0386 | $67,000 | 8/25/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| CLEVELAND BROWNS FOOTBALL COMPANY, LLC | FA448412P0135 | $10,000 | 9/12/2012 | Department of Defense | Air Force |
| CLEVELAND BROWNS FOOTBALL COMPANY, LLC | FA448411P0136 | $12,500 | 9/27/2011 | Department of Defense | Air Force |
| DALLAS COWBOYS FOOTBALL CLUB LTD | W912L113P0015 | $62,500 | 11/9/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| FORTY NINERS FOOTBALL COMPANY LLC | W912LA14P0055 | $125,000 | 8/22/2014 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| GREEN BAY PACKERS, INC. | W912J211P0058 | $400,000 | 8/5/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| GREEN BAY PACKERS, INC. | W912J212P0097 | $150,000 | 8/29/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| GREEN BAY PACKERS, INC. | W912J214P0091 | $50,000 | 8/15/2014 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, INC. | W912L914P0144 | $200,000 | 8/14/2014 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, INC. | W912L912P0122 | $200,000 | 6/19/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, INC. | FA448412P0145 | $20,000 | 9/19/2012 | Department of Defense | Air Force |
| INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, INC. | W912L911P0070 | $200,000 | 3/9/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FOOTBALL CLUB, INC. | W912NS11P0157 | $125,000 | 9/1/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FOOTBALL CLUB, INC. | W912NS11P0157 | $125,000 | 9/1/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| MIAMI DOLPHINS, LTD. | FA304712P0139 | $20,000 | 3/23/2012 | Department of Defense | Air Force |
| MINNESOTA VIKINGS FOOTBALL, LLC | W912LM11P0155 | $230,000 | 9/15/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| MINNESOTA VIKINGS FOOTBALL, LLC | W912LM12P0092 | $225,000 | 9/24/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| MINNESOTA VIKINGS FOOTBALL, LLC | W912LM12P0092 | $150,000 | 9/17/2013 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA SAINTS, L.L.C. | W912NR13C0001 | $165,375 | 3/20/2014 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA SAINTS, L.L.C. | W912NR13C0001 | $157,500 | 7/2/2013 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA SAINTS, L.L.C. | W912NR13C0001 | $150,000 | 12/6/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA SAINTS, L.L.C. | W912NR11P0220 | $100,000 | 9/15/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| NEW YORK JETS LLC | W912KN11P0105 | $50,000 | 9/20/2011 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| NEW YORK JETS LLC | W912KN13P0070 | $115,000 | 7/23/2013 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| NEW YORK JETS LLC | W912KN12P0129 | $97,500 | 9/12/2012 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| NEW YORK JETS LLC | W912KN14P0123 | $115,000 | 9/22/2014 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS SPORTS INC | W9124D13P0338 | $9,000 | 6/25/2013 | Department of Defense | Army/Ft. Knox |
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS SPORTS INC | FA448414P0037 | $27,000 | 7/23/2014 | Department of Defense | Air Force |
| ST. LOUIS RAMS, LLC THE | W912NS14P0142 | $60,000 | 9/17/2014 | Department of Defense | Army/ARNG |
This chart has been updated to include the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers via NJ.com.
Source: U.S. government Get the data
