Baltimore Sun · May 12, 2015
Deals between National Guard and NFL cause a stir
Members of the United States military run onto the field prior to Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)At halftime of each home game last season, the New England Patriots invited a soldier on the field to honor the troops. Dressed in camouflage, they smiled and waved to the crowd during the feel-good moment.
However, the "True Patriot" program wasn't simply patriotism. It was part of a $225,000 advertising deal between the team and the Massachusetts and New Hampshire National Guard.
