Anheuser-Busch Warns NFL to Clean Up Act

September 4, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell walks the sidelines before the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Anheuser-Busch is not happy with how the NFL has handled the cases of Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson, and has finally spoken up according to a USA Today report by David Leon Moore. A spokesperson from Anheuser-Busch had this to say:

"“We are disappointed and increasingly concerned by the recent incidents that have overshadowed this NFL season. We are not yet satisfied with the league’s handling of behaviors that so clearly go against our own company culture and moral code. We have shared our concerns and expectations with the league.”"

This came just a day after Radisson Hotel announced it was suspending its sponsorship of the Minnesota Vikings following Adrian Peterson’s reinstatement; the running back has been indicted on child abuse charges. Anheuser-Busch is one of the NFL’s largest sponsorships including the sponsoring of individual teams, the league itself, and the Super Bowl.

Anheuser-Busch is the first large sponsor to condemn the league for its response to some of its players’ troublesome actions. According to the same USA Today report, PepsiCo has expressed their concern as well, but has yet to make such concerns public as of today’s release. Also, there’s a report that some Nike stores in Minneapolis have pulled Peterson’s jersey from their shelves.

As of this moment, no major sponsor has pulled their support from the NFL, but today’s events might catch the NFL’s attention with half of an over $1 billion dollar contract on the line.