NFL attorneys are investigating an advertisement for a porn industry event that apparently featured unlicensed images of NFL players, WLS-TV reported Wednesday.
The players were pictured in uniform for an advert for the Exxxotica Expo 2011, which was held in Miami last month.
"The NFL office works on behalf of the clubs to protect their intellectual property rights in matters such as this," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy. "Our legal team is reviewing the ad. In general, companies not affiliated with the NFL or its clubs may not depict a player in his uniform," said McCarthy.
The ad features Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers and safety Eric Berry, Chicago Bears safety Major Wright, Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson and Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford as "hosts" of the event, along with three NFL rookies.
Wright, who played for the University of Florida, is known to frequent the Miami club scene, and has appeared at similar events in the past, according to the report.
But the Bears' safety distanced himself from the event via his Twitter account, writing, "FYI..... I have NOTHING to do with the Exotic Expo @ the Rosemont! My pic was used without my permission. No Affiliation at all."
Chicago Bears spokesman Jim Christman echoed Wright's claims, saying, "many times players themselves are unaware of the violation and companies simply pull images and make ads not realizing they are in violation."
Berry's agent Chad Speck also chimed in, telling NBC's Pro Football Talk that his client "did not attend and had no knowledge of this event, and he certainly did not approve the use of his name and image in connection with the party."
In response to inquiries on Twitter, Ford responded that he was not present at the event, adding he was not even in Miami when it took place.
Flowers and Jackson have not commented.
Exxxotica Expo 2011, which bills itself as the world's largest gathering of porn stars, is set to open next month in suburban Chicago.
The players were pictured in uniform for an advert for the Exxxotica Expo 2011, which was held in Miami last month.
"The NFL office works on behalf of the clubs to protect their intellectual property rights in matters such as this," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy. "Our legal team is reviewing the ad. In general, companies not affiliated with the NFL or its clubs may not depict a player in his uniform," said McCarthy.
The ad features Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers and safety Eric Berry, Chicago Bears safety Major Wright, Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson and Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford as "hosts" of the event, along with three NFL rookies.
Wright, who played for the University of Florida, is known to frequent the Miami club scene, and has appeared at similar events in the past, according to the report.
But the Bears' safety distanced himself from the event via his Twitter account, writing, "FYI..... I have NOTHING to do with the Exotic Expo @ the Rosemont! My pic was used without my permission. No Affiliation at all."
Chicago Bears spokesman Jim Christman echoed Wright's claims, saying, "many times players themselves are unaware of the violation and companies simply pull images and make ads not realizing they are in violation."
Berry's agent Chad Speck also chimed in, telling NBC's Pro Football Talk that his client "did not attend and had no knowledge of this event, and he certainly did not approve the use of his name and image in connection with the party."
In response to inquiries on Twitter, Ford responded that he was not present at the event, adding he was not even in Miami when it took place.
Flowers and Jackson have not commented.
Exxxotica Expo 2011, which bills itself as the world's largest gathering of porn stars, is set to open next month in suburban Chicago.
