NFL sponsor Anheuser-Busch 'concerned' by 'recent incidents'
If the NFL thought it could avoid uneasy responses from its numerous sponsors through the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson headlines, the past two days may have helped the league open its eyes a good bit.
On Tuesday, long-time NFL sponsor Anheuser-Busch released the strongest-worded statement yet in response to the bad publicity the league has garnered between the Rice and Peterson incidents (as well as its own lackluster responses).
"We are disappointed and increasingly concerned by the recent incidents that have overshadowed this NFL season," the statement read. "We are not yet satisfied with the league's handling of behaviors that so clearly go against our own company culture and moral code. We have shared our concerns and expectations with the league."
Anheuser-Busch's statement comes one day after the Radisson hotel chain said it had suspended its limited sponsorship with the Minnesota Vikings after the team announced Peterson, who had been arrested on the charge of "reckless or negligent injury to a child," would participate in practices this week and the game Sunday.
While Radisson is a fairly large corporate sponsor and a well-known name in the hotel industry, Anheuser-Busch's disapproval of the NFL's response to these incidents should make a more substantial impact.
Here was the NFL's response:
NFL responds to Anheuser-Busch statement: "We understand. We are taking action & there will be much more to come."
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) September 16, 2014
Also, there's this recent response from Nike, the NFL's sports apparel partner, which has pulled Peterson's jersey off its shelves in its Twin Cities store.
As we keep speculating, the NFL will feel forced to change only when these various illnesses -- be it concussions, the Redskins name or multiple abuse incidents -- begin affecting the league and it's owners where it hurts them the most -- their bank accounts.
In that sense, Anheuser-Busch's statement may be strong, but it is not necessarily indicative of the league losing a major sponsor in the immediate future.
Visa also shot out a statement on the matter:
''As a long-standing sponsor we have spoken with the NFL about our concerns regarding recent events, and reinforced the critical importance that they address these issues with great seriousness.''
PR! Yay!
Back to beer. One player isn't taking Anheuser-Busch's threat seriously. Just ask Texans running back and social media maven Arian Foster.
Related Links
