Fansided

Report: NFL paid millions by the Defense Department to promote the military

By Luke Dahlgren

Nov 10, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Fans participate in a salute to the military at the end of the first quarter of the Denver Broncos game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Fans participate in a salute to the military at the end of the first quarter of the Denver Broncos game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFL was paid by the U.S. Defense Department to do their salutes to military service during the games.

Generally speaking, being a cynic is hard work. It takes an emotional toll being skeptical of the world’s idealism, and when your worldview becomes so misanthropic that you think that every act of altruism is false and self-serving, it is easy to alienate the anthros that you have to deal with in everyday life.

Sometimes it pays off.

From NJ.com:

"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. Senator Jeff Flake captured the prevailing attitude surrounding this payment.

"“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.”"

OF COURSE the NFL doesn’t care about the military. They are just doing it to bolster their image as a member of the moral establishment. The support of the troops has nothing to do with any sort of patriotism on the part of owners and franchises. It is posturing.

But it stood to reason that the partnership was already mutually beneficial. The NFL gets to be moral, and the military gets to be advertised.

Maybe some gullible fans who were worried about the moral standing of the NFL, especially in the wake of countless domestic violence issues, can be swayed into thinking that the league stands for something. It’s the same principle that applies to breast cancer awareness month, where the teams wear pink.

Right as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is covering up domestic violence, he is trying to advertise to the lowest common denominator by giving women a color to root for, something which is fortunately seen as transparent.

Now that this take is hot out of the oven, hopefully the league’s partnership with its promotions can be more closely examined. Don’t blame them; sometimes it pays to be a moral mercenary.

(H/T: NJ.com)

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