Report: Anheuser-Busch Can End Contract With NFL Without Penalty

Anheuser-Busch has long been one of the NFL’s most prominent sponsors.

According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, however, the brewing company’s contract with the league isn’t exactly set in stone.

A source with a copy of the six-year, $1.2 billion contract told Rovell that Anheuser-Busch could “unilaterally end” it’s deal with the NFL “if a ‘league-wide’ event ‘brings the entire NFL, not just particular member clubs, players, coaches or employees, into national disrepute, scandal or ridicule.'”

There has, of course, been plenty of scandal in the NFL over the past few weeks. League commissioner Roger Goodell has taken considerable criticism and is currently under investigation for his handling of Ray Rice’s suspension after he was arrested on a domestic violence charge.

Shortly after the Rice incident, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on a charge of injury to a child. Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was found guilty of assaulting a female in July, and Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested on domestic violence charges on Wednesday.

The source added that Anheuser-Busch must prove that the “event” has lost its company significant business, which, as Rovell notes, might be hard to prove, as TV ratings and merchandise sales remain high.

The beer company released a strongly-worded statement on Tuesday claiming that it was “disappointed and increasingly concerned” by the recent incidents that have marred the NFL.

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