“The NFL has hurt us by not resolving the current debacle to the players’ and owners’ satisfaction,” Schnatter, who serves as the pizza chain’s chairman and chief executive officer, said on a conference call. “NFL leadership has hurt Papa John’s shareholders.”
“Leadership starts at the top, and this is an example of poor leadership,” Schnatter said.
“This should have been nipped in the bud a year and a half ago,” Schnatter said on the call.
He concluded that “like many sponsors, we’re in touch with the NFL. Once the issue is resolved, we’re optimistic the NFL’s best years are ahead.”
It appears Papa John's founder John Schnatter was serious about that last line... as ESPN's Darren Rovell reports that "Papa John’s says it has been pulling advertising associated with the NFL."
While the last few sponsors/advertisers to pull their money from The NFL (here and here) were shrugged off by some, the decision by the major pizza chain - which is a mainstay of almost every commercial break as far as we can remember - will perhaps shock a few more owners.
Papa John's is deeply rooted in the NFL since it has a deal with the league and 23 of its individual teams, according to Rovell.
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Awwwwwwwwsome
ReplyDeleteHe won't have money for his eyebrows to be plucked ?