National Guard Maj. Earl Brown yesterday said that the organization's contracts with NFL teams and other sports groups "were never intended to pay for salutes to the troops, and the payouts are being reduced because of 'significant resource constraints and future budget reductions,'" according to Christopher Baxter of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. Brown said that the Guard had spent $17.2M in taxpayer money "on the NFL and a host of other professional, semi-professional, collegiate and high school sports organizations," including the PGA, NBA, NHL and MLS. He added that the intent of the contracts "was to target and recruit new soldiers, ages 17 to 24, in local communities." Brown said that salutes "were typically requested by teams and organized with the local National Guard offices." Brown: "This is not something we pay for" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/14).
ALLOW ME TO CLARIFY: ESPN N.Y.'s Rich Cimini notes the NFL Jets yesterday "fired back" at questions over their deal with the New Jersey National Guard with a "strongly worded statement." The team said media coverage "was based on misrepresentations and blatant factual errors," claiming it is "patently offensive" for anyone to question their motivation for honoring military personnel. Cimini wrote it is "certainly not a good optic for the team, but the Jets believe their motivation is altruistic" (ESPNNY.com, 5/13). Meanwhile, Falcons Owner Arthur Blank penned a letter to fans in response to reports surrounding his team's partnerships with the National Guard, writing many of the stories "failed to accurately present the business relationships between the two groups." Blank: "Our marketing and sponsorship agreement with the National Guard is designed to fulfill their objectives of increasing awareness and aiding in recruiting efforts. ... This is no different than any other sponsorship agreement in that it is structured to fit a business need." Blank: "It is regretful that the good works of our NFL league office and teams were overlooked in the news stories" (Falcons). In West Palm Beach, Hal Habib notes both the Dolphins and the National Guard yesterday said that on-field homecoming celebrations at Sun Life Stadium "have never been paid for with taxpayer dollars." The Dolphins "received $160,000 -- one of the larger amounts in the NFL -- for advertising and sponsorship deals" with the National Guard. But the Guard said that the Dolphins "did not receive any money." The Dolphins "corroborated the second version, saying the only time they were paid by the military was a $20,000 advertising deal primarily for youth football and community initiatives" (PALM BEACH POST, 5/14).
