If you thought the NFL was just really patriotic by honoring service members during football games, think again.

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) is asking the Department of Defense why it spent $5.4M of taxpayer funds for NFL teams to honor our troops between 2011-2014.

“It is troubling to learn that taxpayer funds are being used to compensate these teams for honoring and recognizing U.S. military service members,” Flake said Monday to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen. Frank Grass.

According to a report from NJ.com, the DOD paid the Atlanta Falcons more than $1M, $885K to the Baltimore Ravens and around $378K to the New York Jets.

“While it may be appropriate for the National Guard or other service branches to spend taxpayer funds on activities directly related to recruiting, giving taxpayer funds to professional sports teams for activities that are portrayed to the public as paying homage to U.S. military personnel would seem inappropriate,” Flake said.

“Such promotions conjure up feelings of patriotism and pride for most sports fans, and the revelation that these are in fact paid arrangements is disappointing,” he added.

And its not just the NFL.

The Pentagon has advertising contracts with NASCAR, MLB, NHL, NCAA and major league soccer.

Flake has asked for any data that "indicates the effectiveness in recruitment efforts of service member recognition events with sporting organizations for which the sporting organizations are paid by service branches."