Softball game on, with or without Nelson

GREEN BAY – Normally, when a pro athlete is cut or traded, his local endorsement deals get the ax as well.

Not so with Jordy Nelson, who was cut by the Green Bay Packers on March 13 and subsequently signed with the Oakland Raiders.

It is unclear whether Nelson will continue to host a charity softball game in Appleton in June. The game, pitting Packers defensive players against offensive players, is scheduled for June 2 at Fox Cities Stadium.

Brett Favre and Donald Driver were previous hosts. Nelson took over in 2014.

Brian Lammi of Lammi Sports Management, Milwaukee, which works with Nelson on charitable events and appearances, said a final decision on who will host the game this year has not been made.

“Lammi Sports Management and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are still working through a process for the game.” Lammi said. “The game will certainly happen on June 2, and we look forward to having updates announced soon.”

Meanwhile, Nelson, is in talks to continue his promotional relationship with Bellin Health, a Green Bay-based healthcare provider.

“It is a very unique situation,” said Tom Arndt, chief market development officer for Bellin. “We are not purging Jordy automatically. Jordy represents something really positive.”

Nelson signed two-year deals with Associated and Bellin in 2015. Endorsement contracts include a wide variety of contingencies. Injuries, such as Nelson’s season-ending ACL tear suffered in 2015, don’t normally affect a deal in the way that getting cut or traded, retiring or legal trouble would.

“If they are national endorsements — the Peyton Manning variety — (which team you play for) should not be an issue. With more local marketing, it presents an issue,” said Andrew Brandt, an NFL business analyst who writes for Sports Illustrated and is a former Packers executive.

The NFL is a brutal business and sentimentality is rarely demonstrated.

Associated Bank, whose deal with Nelson included fan- and customer-engagement activities, marketing projects and community initiatives, has ended its relationship.

Nelson could still be seen in television advertisements for Bellin over the weekend during WIAA state basketball tournament games.

“What was really important about Jordy were his values and the man he represents,” Arndt said. “The story about Jordy is all about a comeback story. Maybe his comeback story isn’t fully complete yet.”