Atlanta Falcan'ts were paid $1 million to 'honor' the military

[tiger7_88]

http://newstome.blog.ajc.com/2015/05/11/falcons-paid-1-million-to-honor-military-hometown-heroes/

 

Until today I was under the impression sports teams honored military personnel due to patriotism or some sense of community spirit.

But then I read an article that says taxpayers shelled out $5.4 million to 14 NFL teams to honor mostly National Guard troops

The Falcons were paid more than $1 million, the highest of any NFL team. I will try to get confirmation from the Falcons today, and ask the Braves if they operate under a similar deal.

 

 

 

The Falcons were paid $1,049,500 between 2011 and 2014, according to data on NJ.com. The largest payments were made prior to each season.

Here’s what the 14 NFL teams were allegedly paid.

• Atlanta Falcons – $1,049,500
• Baltimore Ravens – $799,000
• Buffalo Bills – $679,000
• Indianapolis Colts – $620,000
• Minnesota Vikings – $605,000
• Green Bay Packers – $600,000
• New York Jets — $377,000
• Kansas City Chiefs – $250,000
• Cincinnati Bengals – $139,000
• Dallas Cowboys – $62,000
• St. Louis Rams – $60,000
• Pittsburgh Steelers – $36,000
• Cleveland Browns – $22,000
• Miami Dolphins – $20,000

When it comes to winning public dollars, the Falcons are tough to beat.

 

 

 

Arty Blank is a greasy weasel, I swear.

 

Thank goodness for JR.

[tiger7_88]

Dammit, I already know that I should have put 'were paid' in the title.  FUG!

 

Mods, a little help here?

[Billy Love]

Sleepy pigeons

[LinvilleGorge]

Very glad to see that the Panthers weren't on that list.

[jasonluckydog]

That was nice of the Falcons to pay a million dollars to honor the military. .

[coralreefer_1]

So a (until now) tax exempt industry that has been falling over the 100's of millions it has made tax free, hands out a measly 1 million over 3 years to a rival team, and its an issue?

 

Who cares! They are handing out money not to teams,but to our troops through proxy. When it comes to our soldiers, I dont give a damn about rivalry.

[SgtJoo]

So a (until now) tax exempt industry that has been falling over the 100's of millions it has made tax free, hands out a measly 1 million over 3 years to a rival team, and its an issue?

 

Who cares! They are handing out money not to teams,but to our troops through proxy. When it comes to our soldiers, I dont give a damn about rivalry.

 

You know the individual teams have always been taxed, right?

 

Just checking.

[Cary Kollins]

They had to fund their new on-field vehicles.

 

 

[SCP]

Fitting that their new stadium is a giant tribute to Sam Rosen's sphincter.

[SCP]

Asshole stadium jokes aside, there has to be more to this. I'm not reading the article though.

[coralreefer_1]

You know the individual teams have always been taxed, right?

 

Just checking.

 

And you do know, that any NFL owner is sitting on tons of money, so putting some out a measly 1 million (over three years) to our troops is really no big deal (and a tax write off)...right?

 

Just checking.

 

 

 

 

[TheRed]

Well, this is the same NFL who considered a 2 game suspension an appropriate punishment for beating up your girlfriend and dragging her out of an elevator.

 

Not at all surprising unfortunately.

[Moorgan]

I think it's largely based on advertising. I've been in the Army for 20 years and there is a ton of money that is spent for the Army to advertise. They sponsor a NASCAR car. So to pay a team to honor some soldiers so people see soldiers being honored is part of a recruiting budget somewhere. I'm not surprised. I'm surprised that all 32 teams aren't on the list though.

But I could be wrong and it could be shady. I don't know.

[LinvilleGorge]

And you do know, that any NFL owner is sitting on tons of money, so putting some out a measly 1 million (over three years) to our troops is really no big deal (and a tax write off)...right?

 

Just checking.

 

You understand that the Falcons were paid $1M+ not that they paid that money out, right?