US Defense Department paid 14 NFL teams $5.4M to honor soldiers
By Jared Dubin | NFL Writer
May 11, 2015 11:03 am ET
According to a report from Christopher Baxter and Jonathan Salant of NJ.com, the Department of Defense has paid 14 different NFL teams a total of $5.4 million over the last four years in exchange for patriotic displays at games.
Per NJ.com's report, "U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz) last week called out the New Jersey Army National Guard for the spending, which, in part, paid for a segment at Jets home games in which soldiers were featured on the big screen, thanked for their service and given tickets to the game."
The National Guard responded by asserting that it was a useful recruitment tool.
"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 and garners public support for our Hometown Team," Guard spokesman Patrick Daugherty said.
The Jets were joined by the Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Packers, Colts, Chiefs, Vikings and Steelers in receiving multiple payouts, while the Cowboys, Dolphins and Rams were each one-time recipients. The team that has received the most money from this practice is the Falcons, with a total of $1,049,500 coming their way in five payments.
Here's the full list from NJ.com:
Code:
Team Contract # Amount Date Dept 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
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 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