In the wake of former Ravens RB Ray Rice's domestic violence case and allegations of child abuse against Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, some NFL advertisers have "requested their ads not appear during games" featuring either team, according to sources cited by Marisa Guthrie of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. CBS, which kicked off its $275M "Thursday Night Football" package Sept. 11 "with strong ratings for a Ravens game, had one sponsor ask to be removed from the broadcast and another request its ads shift, likely away from a discussion of the violence issue during CBS Sports' pregame report." CBS "declined to identify the sponsors" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 9/24).
NO-CALL, NO-SHOW? In N.Y., Emily Smith reports the NFL "botched a TV ad shoot for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, leaving a breast cancer survivor and film crew waiting for hours for players who didn't show up." The league "planned to film" a PSA in N.Y. on Sept. 16. A breast cancer survivor "drove from Boston to film a 'Crucial Catch' PSA to urge women to get mammograms." At least two NFL players -- who "were said to be" Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams and Patriots WR Danny Amendola -- "were to participate in the film." A source said that Williams "canceled the night before the shoot to undergo rehab on an injury." Reps for Amendola said that he "was never contacted about the shoot and isn't permitted by the Pats to do appearances midseason." Smith reports the NFL "scrambled to 'get any player in a 100 mile radius to show up'" and came up with Giants P Steve Weatherford. But a Giants spokesperson said, "Steve agreed at the last minute, but by the time he was scheduled to be picked up for the shoot he was told he was no longer needed." The league hired N.Y.-based ad agency Grey and director Henry-Alex Rubin for the spot (N.Y. POST, 9/25).
