Louisiana-based hot-sauce brand Slap Ya Mama "will no longer get to splash its logo on television during preseason games" when the Saints reach the red zone, according to Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Slap Ya Mama parent company Walker & Sons said that the move was made "in light of domestic violence issues" facing the NFL. The red-zone ads "had been controversial for other reasons, with some viewers complaining that they were intrusive." Walker & Sons said that the NFL "sent a subsequent memo to league teams asking them to stop the red-zone 'virtual signage' ads during preseason broadcasts." The hot-sauce company "sent a press release criticizing the move before the Saints' third preseason game on Saturday." The company in the release said, "People who know our brand 'get it' but all of a sudden, after three years, the NFL doesn't. Maybe they just don't understand our culture. What a shame!" (NOLA.com, 8/23). All NFL teams were notified last week that no virtual signage will be permitted to appear on the playing field in any telecast for the remainder of preseason. Eleven teams had been using virtual ads in locally produced preseason games (THE DAILY).
