Papa John's says anthem protests are hurting deal with NFL

ESPN.com ^ | November 1, 2017 | Darren Rovell

[John W]

Executives from Papa John's, the official pizza company of the NFL, expressed disappointment on a conference call Wednesday about the league's ongoing player protests during the national anthem.

"The NFL has hurt us," company founder and CEO John Schnatter said. "We are disappointed the NFL and its leadership did not resolve this."

Executives said the company has pulled much of its NFL television advertising and that the NFL has responded by giving the company additional future spots.

"Leadership starts at the top and this is an example of poor leadership," Schnatter said, noting he thought the issue had been "nipped in the bud" a year and a half ago.

In revising sales estimates for the next quarter, Papa John's president and chief operating officer Steve Ritchie said on the call that the NFL deal was the primary suspect behind the decline and that "we expect it to persist unless a solution is put in place."

[rrrod]

Email papa John’s...I did

[Texas Eagle]

Yo, John, why don’t you grow a pair and end the association.

[Red Badger]

Goodell must go............................

[mazda77]

I typically don’t get pizza’s from Pappa Johns but I just might have to consider it. Peyton Manning owns many of the store franchises in the Denver area that I know of.

[Army Air Corps]

More advertisers will bail on the NFL. The kneelers may become familiar with the unemployment line.

[Fido969]

Lie down with dogs...

[bunkerhill7]

NFL is out of bounds.
10 year penalty.
No first down.
All protesting players ejected for targeting Old Glory.

[Vaquero]

Eff the NFL. they are dead to me. A new football organization is primed to succeed. Pay attention potential billionaire owners. The time is ripe.

[Terry Mross]

The NFL will give Pappa Johns more spots. They’re losing business because people aren’t ordering pizza ‘cause they’re not watching the games. Shows how out of touch the NFL is.

[henkster]

Papa John’s is OK if you like salt; they use too much. But they are generous with the toppings, especially the cheese.

[caligatrux]

I typically don’t get pizza’s from Pappa Johns but I just might have to consider it. Peyton Manning owns many of the store franchises in the Denver area that I know of.

Well, they are still advertising with and supporting the NFL as of now, so I just get my pizza from a local restaurant that proudly displays a big American flag in their window.

[Bender2]

We had a Papa John's here in Corsicana, Texas, some 18 or so years back and I got one of their pizzas once. It had sugar in the crust and to me, that is not pizza in any way, shape or form--

Never went back and that Papa John's 56 miles south of Big D folded within six months or so.

[Lockbar]

I’ve never been disappointed with a Papa John’s Pizza. But they need to cut the relationship with NFL. Sounds like they are going in that direction.

[HarleyLady27]

“The NFL has hurt us,” company founder and CEO John Schnatter said. “We are disappointed the NFL and its leadership did not resolve this.”

Well Papa John, you are a sponsor, so we boycott you also...if you don’t like it, pull away from the NFL...they are going to break your business if you don’t, we are NOT giving in on this one either!!!

[henkster]

Or they are looking for leverage to renegotiate a better deal.

[BlueLancer]

They’re losing business because people aren’t ordering pizza ‘cause they’re not watching the games. The NFL will give Pappa Johns more spots.

That's like saying, "Well, I'm taking a loss on each item, but I'll make up for it in volume ..."

[RegulatorCountry]

They’re a little too bread-ey and the crust tastes a little on the sweet side, I have a hard time calling it pizza but it’s not awful and they sometimes have great price deals. The garlic butter dipping sauce and the pepperoncini with each pizza is a nice touch. Just don’t expect a classic pizza because it’s not.

[Army Air Corps]

It had sugar in the crust...

That hasn't been my experience. I will say that they do not skimp on the toppings (they are quite generous with the cheese). When I was a grad student of meager means, one of their large pizzas could be stretched into a couple of meals.

[Sybeck1]

Yes this lies at Goodells feet. No way to turn it around with him there.