SportsBusiness Journal has incorrectly reported on two occasions that former NFL senior vice president of marketing and sales John Collins, now president of the Cleveland Browns, was responsible for the production of the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show.
To set the record straight, your readers should know that this statement is incorrect and completely unfair to Collins. He was not responsible for managing the halftime show. It was neither in his job description nor something for which he was held accountable.
Collins was responsible for securing the Super Bowl halftime show sponsor. He did not hire MTV to produce the show nor book any of the talent. Managing MTV and the content of its Super Bowl halftime production was not his responsibility.
As we stated immediately after the Super Bowl, the ultimate problem that resulted was a collective failure of this office. Prior to the Super Bowl, Collins participated with several other NFL staff members in meetings with MTV where we received assurances that the halftime show would be appropriate for our audience. Those assurances were not met. To single out Collins on this issue and state that the “unfortunate halftime was run” by him is grossly inaccurate.
Greg Aiello
New York
Greg Aiello is vice president of public relations for the National Football League.
