Today’s arrest of Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor is a reminder to those of us in marketing that it’s important to carefully consider the company we keep. There are always risks – past and future – associated with signing on a celebrity spokesperson. But when dieting company Nutrisystem aligned itself with Taylor, they assumed a level of risk greater than most. The company, of course, immediately severed ties with him saying they were “shocked and saddened” by the rape allegations. Admittedly, Taylor managed to stay out of trouble for more than a decade and he seemed to ingratiate himself with America last year during his seven-week run on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.” Presumably Nutrisystem weighed the risks of working with Taylor and decided it was worth it. I think we’re all saddened by the turn of events. But “shocked?”