In the face of a public relations crisis surrounding domestic violence issues involving Ray Rice and several other players, Procter & Gamble/Crest Toothpaste pulled a planned 32 NFL team campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweeted that the consumer products giant jettisoned the project “due to recent off field events.” Sports Illustrated reported that all of the NFL teams were going to use pink mouth guards during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Moreover, players were to use social media to further promote the cause.
Along with Ravens running back Rice, Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald, and Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer all have recently been charged or convicted for domestic violence. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson faces charges of child abuse.
Last week, the Baltimore Ravens cut Rice and early in the week Hardy and Peterson were placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list. The Cardinals placed Dwyer on the reserve/non-football illness list earlier this week.
An anonymous buyer for a well known sporting-goods chain told Uni-Watch on Tuesday that the NFL made the decision months ago to roll out a low-key “Pinktober.” He said there would be some pink, but it would not be used for nationally televised games. However, the buyer said that the NFL plans a bigger push this year for G.I. Joevember.