A series of advertisements pairing two Chicago sports teams have been nixed by the NFL.
The ads, which brought together stars from the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Blackhawks were completed two months ago and were close to hitting the airwaves until NFL submarined the deal, the Sun-Times reports.
It would have been the first time that two major sports leagues teamed up for a campaign.
In the ads Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews trade tips on passing accuracy. Bears linebacker Lance Briggs and Hawks defenseman Brent Seabrook compare notes on how big hits can lead to big turnovers.
Bears kicker Robbie Gould, with the Blackhawks' Patrick Sharp holding, tries to boot a field goal into a hockey net strapped to the uprights.
Sounds funny, but no one from the NFL was laughing about sharing their brand with the NHL.
And, in hindsight, the Blackhawks may be happy the deal fell through considering how badly the Bears have played this season.
