During timeouts at home games, the New York Jets air a Hometown Heroes segment in which a U.S. soldier or two are shown on the Jumbotron and everyone thanks them for their service. The soldiers and three friends get seats in the Coaches Club. It’s a nice salute.

 

It’s also funded by U.S. taxpayers.

 

In news that was first reported Tuesday by Herb Jackson of the Bergen Record and expanded upon by Christopher Baxter and Jonathan D. Salant of New Jersey Advance Media, the Department of Defense paid 14 NFL teams $5.4 million from 2011 to 2014 for salutes like the Hometown Heroes segment and other advertising at professional football games. All but $100,000 of that money came from the National Guard

 

 

National Guard paid millions to NFL teams for in-game soldier salutes

That time is valuable in the terms of adverting dollars to each team and the NFL. Makes sense to me that someone was paying for it.

I really dislike NFL owners and this is yet another reason why. As greedy as any group of people out there.

What a joke.

Sure it would be great if this were done for free and without the military playing a part but it's not. The US armed forces supports this because it is propaganda, a recruiting tool in a sport where men "battle for inches on the gridiron". I'm not saying I am ok with it but I certainly understand both sides especially the military recognizing who is going to see these tributes and perhaps hope to have their own one day.

With all of the negative publicity, might be good to donate some time for this one. Maybe these salutes (for free) would ease the pain of all the knuckleheads in the league that continually give the good guys a black eye.

They should spend that money doing a better job of taking care of our veterans instead of expensive recruiting commercials and fake "we care about our soldiers" salutes from the NFL.

That's sad.

I'm in the minority, but I don't have a problem with it. Frankly, that money will be spent somewhere, why not spend it where you get the most bang for your buck?

The Reds do something similar every home game. I always assumed they just allowed the veteran and their family into the game for free.

 

Always one of my favorite parts of the game, especially when its a WWII vet.

It's not really different than seeing commercials on TV or a race car sponsored by a branch of the military. It comes out of their recruiting budget.

 

That said, I agree 100% with Djason, more money needs to be spent paying and caring for soldiers instead of trying to get more of them.

I'm in the minority, but I don't have a problem with it. Frankly, that money will be spent somewhere, why not spend it where you get the most bang for your buck?

 

I can barely afford an NFL game myself and now my tax money is being used to entertain and as an ad at NFL games instead of caring for the veterans that so desperately need it. Awesome.

I can barely afford an NFL game myself and now my tax money is being used to entertain and as an ad at NFL games instead of caring for the veterans that so desperately need it. Awesome.

I'm not arguing that the vets don't need more funding. Nothing could be further from the truth. However, it's obvious that the DOD is gonna spend tax dollars at their liberty for advertising. So, my question is, why is this offensive? Or more offensive than other areas of advertising that they are undoubtedly gonna venture in? I think to hope that the govt decides to ditch advertising and recruitment effort in an attempt to aid our vets is a pipedream, IMO.

Chris Cristie spent $40K+ in tax dollars on food and liquor at Jets and Giants games last year.

 

#PartySuite

What do you think it costs to sponsor a nascar race team? National Guard spent $32 million sponsoring Dale Earnhart Jr's car and another $12 million on Indy car. They are definitely spending money. It looks they have pulled the plug on Nascar after this year though.

 

National Guard ending Hendrick sponsorship