Well, at least General Mills thinks that Aaron Rodgers is worthy of an endorsement contract: The cereal maker is featuring the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl MVP quarterback on boxes of Wheaties for a month, along with the team's defensive star, linebacker Clay Matthews. But only in Wisconsin.

The Wheaties deal illustrates one of the most interesting marketing twists of the new, almost-delayed season of NFL football.

Rodgers did the Walt Disney World parade thing on the day after his team's Super Bowl victory in February, appeared on the David Letterman show and did some of the other PR duties usually attendant to a good-looking, articulate, "elite" quarterback after leading such a march to the championship.

But for some reason, Rodgers has been slow to catch on as a spokesman for national brands in the way that the league's other top field generals, past and present, have done.Continue reading...

Dozens of antacid brands, including Johnson & Johnson's trio of Rolaids, Pepcid and Mylanta, aren't available in the US due to recalls. As J&J works to get its products up to FDA muster and back on shelves, the pressure's on generic store brands such as Kroger’s and CVS private-label products to meet demand.

At a CVS store in Fortville, Ind., USA Today spotted a sign on a shelf where Pepcid AC should have been: "Looking for Pepcid AC products? Try CVS/pharmacy Brand for the same great results."

Less reputable outlets are looking to meet demand — witness the recent theft of $500 of heartburn products (either for personal or black market use) from Target.Continue reading...

Tonight marks the 20th NFL Season for Brett Favre. During that time the multiple-MVP award quarterback has won a Super Bowl and retired two or three times. To mark Favre's 286th consecutive start, here's a look back at the best and worst brand endorsements connected with the "gunslinging" legend.

Brand: Nike (above)

This 1997 ad caught Favre in his prime MVP years. While perfectly fine selling the Nike brand, what this ad really does is sell Favre as the working man's quarterback, a guy unconcerned with the limelight who just wants to play some damn football. For the next 13 years, this will be the default understanding of the Favre brand.

Love of the Game Score: He's like a kid out there!Continue reading...