The NFL has recently announced that players will not be permitted to use social media within the 90 minutes prior to kickoff or during games. Players may not use social media sites themselves nor can a representative of the player post updates on the player’s account.
Players are permitted to update their sites after interviewing with traditional media outlets.
It is more understandable that many teams in the NFL have imposed restrictions on using Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking sites on the practice field. What goes on in practice is rarely shown in the media, and if it is, it is only in the form of short video clips. On the contrary, games are shown live, so as long as players avoid leaking confidential play information, what should stop them from twittering about how slippery the grass is or how awesome that last run was?
It is most likely that the restriction is an effort to protect the brand rather than an attempt to preserve the game. For example: why was Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie fined $2,500 for criticizing the food service at his training camp? There should be no reason why a personal complaint about one’s meals should interfere with a football team’s efficiency on the field. It is possible, however, that the complaint about NFL-hired help may somehow tarnish the “no nonsense” image the brand fights hard to maintain.
I think this last bit of information reiterates my claim: Charlie Villanueva, previously with the Milwaukee Bucks, tweeted during halftime and got reprimanded by coach Scott Skiles. Was Skiles upset that Villanueva was focusing on other things rather than on his contributions on the field? Well, not really-Skiles was upset that the tweet gave the impression that Villanueva wasn’t focused.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8124976d&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true
2 comments:
Although I do not understand the intricacies that go into the plan of a football game, I do understand the problem with mid-game social media. Using Twitter, Facebook or any other social and online tool can be viewed as a distraction. Think of an actor or performer tweeting between scene changes backstage at a play, or think of the business person updating his or her status on Facebook during a big presentation-- it just shows a certain amount of disrespect to the task at hand (in this case, the game).
While I do think the 90 minute rule before a game is excessive, I do think phones shouldn't be allowed on the field.
As for after the game or during practices, that is just tje NFL censoring their players to protect an image and other tradtional media ties.
Now how am I supposed to know what Chad Johnson had for his pregame meal?
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