They did, Remember POTUS (when a candidate, IIRC) calling NFL out for taking $$$ when disrespecting our Flag/Military.
"That changed in 2009, as the Department of Defense poured millions of dollars into the NFL in exchange for displays of patriotism during games. “Until 2009, no NFL player stood for the national anthem because players actually stayed in the locker room as the anthem played,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith explained in 2016. “The players were moved to the field during the national anthem because it was seen as a marketing strategy to make the athletes look more patriotic. The United States Department of Defense paid the National Football League $5.4 million between 2011 and 2014, and the National Guard $6.7 million between 2013 and 2015 to stage onfield patriotic ceremonies as part of military-recruitment budget line items.”
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/pentagon-paid-nfl-displays-patriotism/
Dozens of pro sports teams involved in ‘paid patriotism’ November 4, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Defense Department’s use of “paid patriotism” at sporting events went far beyond a few NFL franchises, according to an investigation released Wednesday by two senators.
In the past three years, the department doled out money to dozens of professional sports teams to buy events and access aimed at honoring the military, … (noname & its comrade, Fake, are cited)
The military marketing contracts with the teams, worth a total of $6.8 million, paid for troop tributes, military field ceremonies, player appearances and VIP passes. The lawmakers said the practice has been an embarrassment to DOD, which relies on marketing to increase recruitments, and misled viewers to believe franchise owners and teams were bankrolling tributes out of patriotism.
“They obviously should not be doing this,” McCain said. “We appreciate if they [teams] honor the men and women in uniform, but not to get paid for it.”
https://www.stripes.com/news/dozens-of-pro-sports-teams-involved-in-paid-patriotism-1.376973