Hey you know all those awesome patriotic celebrations at NFL games? Well your taxes paid for those.

Courtesy of PBS: 

The United States Department of Defense paid the National Football League more than $5 million in taxpayer money between 2011 to 2014 to honor U.S. soldiers and veterans at games, an investigation revealed this week. 

Nearly $5.4 million was given to 14 NFL teams across the country, the bulk of which ($5.3 million) was supplied by the National Guard and the rest paid by the Army and Air Force, according to government records obtained by NJ.com. 

But instead of purely heartfelt salutes to soldiers from hometown football teams, the halftime segments were reportedly part of paid promotions under federal advertising contracts for the military. 

Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) called out the spending as an “egregious and unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars.” 

‘Those of us go to sporting events and see them honoring the heroes; you get a good feeling in your heart,” Sen. Flake told NJ.com. “Then to find out they’re doing it because they’re compensated for it, it leaves you underwhelmed. It seems a little unseemly.”

Well now I just feel dirty. 

Okay here's the thing, I know this report only covers the years between 2011 and 2014, but does anybody really think this program started at that time?

I would suggest that this has been going on for quite some time.

I would also suggest that if the government pays the NFL this kind of money to promote the military that it is highly likely there is tax payer money flowing to other places to promote them as well.

Such as, oh I don't know, certain cable outlets? The budgets of pro-military Hollywood movies perhaps? Or how about former politicians turned reality show personalities?

That would explain some things, wouldn't it?

All I know is that now when I see what appears to be a spontaneous celebration of our American troops. my first thought will be, "Gee I wonder how much THEY were paid?"