Ahead Of Super Bowl, Blumenthal Calls On NFL To Clarify, Bolster Commitment To Combatting Domestic Violence

Press Release

In a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today called on the league to clarify the terms of its financial commitment to The National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. He also called on the NFL to consider the ramifications of implementing a plan that bolsters the visibility of such groups via PSAs but does not provide additional resources to the groups to handle the ensuing surge in need for services.

Blumenthal, the earliest and strongest critic of the NFL's handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence incident, pressed the league's Troy Vincent at a December 2, 2014 Commerce Committee hearing on what commitments the NFL would make to help groups on the front lines of the fight against domestic violence. Although Vincent testified that the NFL was prepared to commit $5 million annually for five years to the groups, a January 15 follow-up letter from the league to Blumenthal and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said some of the funding would be in the form of promotional support, raising questions about the exact nature of the commitment made and testified about before Congress.

"Although I am glad the NFL has recognized the necessity of addressing this issue, [$5 million annually] is barely a fraction of the financial support needed by organizations that every day provide shelter, counseling, and education across the country," Blumenthal wrote. "Compared with the $10 million per year that is spent on its Super Bowl halftime show -- not to mention the $5 billion the NFL earns each year in television rights -- this amount seems terribly insufficient. If the NFL is serious about its commitment to combatting domestic violence, it could contribute many times more.

"Even at the current level of commitment, when it comes to clear terms for timing and action, the NFL has hedged and dodged. The letter implies that some of the $25 million would be used for promotional support, which may include public service announcements. These supposed 'public service' ads may also be self-serving - promoting the NFL's public image as much as raising awareness. Insofar as they raise public awareness, they are likely to substantially increase call volume to the Hotline as well as requests for service without actually bolstering resources for local service providers that struggle every day to help survivors rebuild their lives."

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