Lost in the shuffle of the NFL’s punishment of the New England Patriots Monday was a report stating the Department of Defense paid a total of $5.4 million to NFL teams through promotional military contracts over the last few years.
According to NJ.com, the Ravens were among a group of 14 teams that received funds to finance advertising and military tributes. Baltimore has reportedly received $884,500 since 2011 — the second-highest amount of any mentioned team — but senior vice president of public and community relations Kevin Byrne told multiple outlets Monday that the Ravens’ agreement with the Maryland National Guard makes “no mention of honoring soldiers.”
Past advertising included a Maryland National Guard patch on the Ravens’ practice jerseys, the type of measure that probably should have made it clear that there was a financial aspect to their partnership. Of course, this blurs the line between business and goodwill for many as the Ravens have recognized military personnel in a variety of ways over the years.
In fairness, there is much evidence to suggest the Ravens have gone above and beyond in their efforts to recognize the military as head coach John Harbaugh alone has visited soldiers abroad and received the league’s Salute to Service award in 2013 for his well-documented efforts.
Meanwhile, Arizona senator Jeff Flake has criticized the Armed Forces for the allocation of these funds, questioning the effectiveness of the measures while understanding their desire to recruit soldiers from NFL fan bases. Depending on your views, it could be easy to find fault with either side while questioning the authenticity of the many touching tributes we’ve witnessed at Ravens games and across the league in recent years.
Can a team accept military dollars for advertising and marketing and simultaneously recognize soldiers as sheer acts of goodwill like the Ravens say they do?
Opinions will certainly vary depending on who you talk to.
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
8
Paid Advertisement
Podcast Audio Vault
88Paid Advertisement
Share the Post:
8Paid Advertisement
Right Now in Baltimore
For people lacking ample shelter and employment, Project PLASE is there to help
Sure, the spelling is a little different but you'll remember this place called Project PLASE once you meet Karen Thomas and Tiana Samuels, who join Nestor at El Guapo in Catonsville to share the work being done to help folks get off the streets of Baltimore and onto a better life. We love the local stories of inspiration and "the helpers" during "A Cup Of Soup Or Bowl" Week.
Sports cartoonist Ricig discusses family mission in Africa and Orioles and Ravens new directives in Baltimore
It's always time well spent with our oldest sports newspaper pal and lifer cartoonist Mike Ricigliano, who resumed his Ko-host role at Koco's Pub for "A Cup of Soup Or Bowl" talking about the Orioles and Ravens fortunes this year. But, more importantly, Ricig told Nestor the story about his wife's family heading to Kenya to help families and children in need in Africa via Future In Our Hands charity mission.
The Jason Los Foundation: Putting sudden tragedy into action with friendship and purpose
The Smalltimore story of a local friend suddenly lost inspired a connected group of community-minded folks to surround a widow and her children by honoring his legacy through The Jason Los Foundation, powering up a special bond of friends into local action and love. And. of course, the best stories are told over tasty Pizza John's in Essex on "A Cup Of Soup Or Bowl" with a whole cheering section for Cynthia Los, who made her debut in telling tales of her late husband.
888Paid Advertisement
