NFL bans tweeting before, during, after games

The National Football League has had a love-hate relationship with social media.

Some teams tweeted to fans while choosing players at the NFL draft back in April. But then last month, a few NFL teams told players they couldn't tweet or text-message during a team function.

On Monday, the league announced that it had modified its social-media policy to limit Twitter and social-networking use by players, coaches, league officials, and even the media.

The NFL said that it will let players, coaches, and other team personnel engage in social networking during the season. However, they will be prohibited from using Twitter and from updating profiles on Facebook and other social-networking sites during games.

In addition, they will not be allowed to tweet or update social-networking profiles 90 minutes before a game and until post-game interviews are completed.

The rules even extend to people "representing" a player or coach on their personal accounts.

The NFL didn't just stop with the league itself, though. The organization also said that media attending games will be prohibited from providing game updates through social networks.

"Longstanding policies prohibiting play-by-play descriptions of NFL games in progress apply fully to Twitter and other social media platforms," the National Football League said in its statement. "Internet sites may not post detailed information that approximates play-by-play during a game.

"While a game is in progress, any forms of accounts of the game must be sufficiently time-delayed and limited in amount (e.g., score updates with detail given only in quarterly game updates) so that the accredited organization's game coverage cannot be used as a substitute for, or otherwise approximate, authorized play-by-play accounts."

The fact that the NFL won't allow tweeting during games isn't new. The league instituted the policy for players after they started using technology in touchdown celebrations. But the updated regulations now extend to just about anyone who is remotely involved in the game.

Why the NFL decided to change its policy now is unknown. But it might have felt compelled to update it after Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco said in a recent Ustream chat that he plans to circumvent the rules and tweet while playing.

It could have also had something to do with Donte Stallworth's Twitter account. The player was suspended by the NFL after he was charged with DUI manslaughter and served 30 days in jail. His Twitter account features tweets discussing his suspension and incarceration.

Still, if Ochocinco or any other player tweets during a game, it might be difficult for the NFL to enforce the rule. And since players can create accounts that the NFL might not even know about, it's doubtful that the league will be able to monitor all social-media activity. We'll just have to wait until the season starts next week and see what happens when someone breaks the rules.

Look for Ochocinco to test them first.

The No Fun League strikes again.

[Mortem84]

Whenever i think of the people running the NFL, i am forced to think of Sampson from Half-baked when that lady'sbreast fell out. I know it not relevant, but it makes me laugh.

[techman21]

What a racket! The NFL is a sports mafia.

[neonle]

probably because of many players beginning to vent there anger through these social sites and everything is blown out of proportion..I don welcome this decision but it might stop the dressing room news to leak hopefully:P

[Mweaver2k9]

Banning the media too? Why not ban the fans at the game as well? If not for fantasy football, I wouldn't give the nfl a second of my time

[saromero23]

You raise questions as to why the NFL instituted this policy. Whatever the "official reason", I believe the reason is along the same lines as why we can't use cell phones during take-off and landing on commercial airliners: because the FAA does not know if it is bad or not.



A recent study to measure potential cell-phone interference showed that every cell phone tested had no effect on commercial airliner instrumentation performance. But consider the frequency of technology change. The overhead associated with testing new technologies would be overwhelming, so the easiest course is for the FAA to restrict cell phone use entirely.



I bet this same thinking applies to the NFL and Twitter. They can't begin to imagine or envision the potential downside of a technology they barely understand. They could spend hours, days or even weeks studying the use of Twitter, or simply ban it. I believe they chose the latter though I don't expect them to admit to this decision-making rationale.



As far as the impossibility of enforcing the policy, I doubt they are concerned. I don't foresee any major Twitter/Facebook monitoring on the part of the NFL. But just wait for some negative event associated with somebody tweeting during a game. The policy enables the NFL to suspend them.



Steve Romero, IT Governance Evangelist


[CNET editors' note: Promotional link deleted]]

[sting7k]

Actually the reason cell phones do not interfere with most modern air plane's systems is because they have well shielded wiring and electronics. You would need a much more powerful radio or transmitter to have any effect compared to what a cell phone can produce.

[ThatGuyKC]

Good points from Mweaver2k9 and saromero23.

I don't see the point of limiting media members from relating game information real time. What's to stop any of the thousands of fans in attendance from tweeting or posting to Facebook during the game?

I agree w/ saromero23 that the NFL is mirroring the FAA and will just use the policy as justification for suspension if a player breaks the rules.

[texaslabrat]

The point is that information regarding the games given out by "official" sources (such as players, coaches etc) is considered intellectual property of the NFL and as such, the NFL reserves the right to control it's immediate dissemination to the world at large (ie so they can get paid for it via media contracts). The thousands of fans might tweet, but with very few exceptions no one really cares since it is the rare "normal" fan that has a following sufficient to supplant traditional media coverage in a meaningful way and is not an original source of information of NFL content. Silly distinction, but that's what makes the media-centric world go 'round.

[SactoGuy018]

There's a HUGE difference between fans in the stands updating their Facebook status or sending "tweets" and team members or accredited media doing the same thing.

[Mergatroid Mania]

All they are doing is making these fans have a larger and larger followings for any people actually looking for these in-game updates.

I'm sure it's already happening, and will only happen more the more they try to restrict it.

[Wa_Conner]

Apparently these guys have never heard of the 1st amendment. With the recent rules revision in the SEC, and now the NFL I won't be surprised if we see a lawsuit soon about this abridgment of free speech.

[texaslabrat]

1st amendment doesn't apply here. It's not the government squelching speech, it is a business entity that is imposing restrictions on its contractually bound partners (players, coaches, media that signs special deals for inside access, etc). Now, if the NFL tries to go after the general population for such tweeting (who are not under such a binding contractual agreement), then obviously that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

[omnichad]

@texaslabrat They won't go after the general population. Just ticket holders. They consider that ticket a contract between you and them. Just try bringing a video camera in. Or for that matter, a higher-end digital still camera.

[Mergatroid Mania]

Which is also stupid because if you're outside the area you can record the entire game if you want to.

[bhaber602]

It seems like this policy is not about Twitter, but is geared towards protecting the media and their jobs.

[CNET editors' note: Promotional link deleted]

[inachu1]

Oh please!
Bob with his moblie phone sitting and drinking in the stands will be texting and you will be totally helpless!

[texaslabrat]

did you even read the article?

[Jahmekan]

I love when people scream about the 1st amendment and have no idea how it is used. The NFL is a private business and they can limit what and how their product is talked about as long as it is within their contractual rights. The NFL set the rules...not the hired players, coaches or another staff that represent the organization. So this is a non-story. Hell the company you work at right now has certain restrictions that you have to abide by or find a new job. I am going back to browsing real technology news now.

[techgeekdude]

I can see this making sense for NFL players and staff due to concerns about gambling. The tennis association recently announced a similar policy, and the belief is that you never know what inside information intentional or not may be leaked or disseminated. Now, some may argue that people aren't that stupid. I would argue that stranger things have happened and common sense often takes a back seat. Arguments about 1st amendment rights don't apply here because players and staff are employees of a private enterprise, namely the NFL. Think of it as part of your employment contract that states clearly that business information is considered confidential.

Why are people calling the act of sending and receiving messages via Twitter "tweeting?" I would apply Ockham's razor and for simplicity's sake call it TWITTING. That's what it is. Hey, don't blame me, they chose the name - not me. So, don't TWIT me with your complaints.

[omnichad]

They didn't even choose the name. They adopted the name after everyone started calling it that. Now they're having trouble even trademarking the word "tweet."

[sting7k]

It probably has a lot to do with ESPN, Fox, CBS, and NBC not wanting their broadcasters and reporters getting scooped by a player, agent, handler, or friend standing on the sideline or in the locker room. The networks could pressure the NFL who carry their games and have rights to online game casts and score/play tracking.

Or maybe it's just another case of them becoming the No Fun League.

[theatreboi25]

I think you hit the issue directly on the head. The TV Networks $17 billion broadcast contract with the NFL likely has a lot to do with it. Just read that NBC has a 45 minute exclusivity on game highlights during its Sunday Night Football pre-game show. Not even ESPN can use the game clips during that time. And CBS and FOX who air those earlier games can't use those clips either while Football Night in America is on air.

[Mergatroid Mania]

Which is exactly why this is so stupid. There are thousands of fans with smart phones in the stands, not to mention in other areas watching on TV.
Hell, one of my buddies had to go to an event at a crappy restaurant that had no TV, and it was during a football game he wanted to keep apprised of. So, he called me and had me text him the scores and what happened during any exceptional plays. I kept all the sports fans informed that day. I would like to see the NFL try and stop that.

"land of the free" strikes again....

[sting7k]

@Mergatroid, this only applies to people at the game who are part of the NFL. As a private organization they can do this for these people. I very much doubt they are going to have security running around taking phones out of the hands of fans.

[GIFF24]

Frankly, if I were an NFL coach and caught a player doing ANYTHING on the inter tubes during a game I'd chew his ass off, bench him and throw the phone underneath the nearest set of cleats.

[Mergatroid Mania]

Then you would exit your cave and go club a mastodon for supper.

[Lerianis5]

Great post, Mania..... the fact is that unless a player is ON THE FIELD AT THAT TIME, it would have little to no effect on his performance.

[Saltiva]

LOL- ROMO Trying to text and Tweet while on the field in the huddle.

[Arbalest05]

I can understand why the NFL wouldn't want a team member telling the public that their QB had an injury or their starting running back won't be in the next series of plays because he lost a contact - it could change the way the opposing team is playing.

On the other hand, all the games are televised, so the public can usually get more information from the TV coverage than any on-line method.

Lastly, Twitter users aren't usually big sports fans, they're twitter users instead. No real sport fan updates their Facebook page, or tweets *during* the game - if they do, they're not real sports fans.

[seishino]

It seems to me like this isn't to protect the sanctity of the game, but rather to protect the revenue streams associated with sanctioned live play-by-play coverage. It might seem a little strange from a technology standpoint to try and stop people from updating other people on what is happening. But as discretionary spending receeds the NFL seems to be relying upon all of their revenue streams to stay afloat.

[pamon92660]

What about tweeting during the game from the crowd as a fan? Did the NFL ban that too?

[markdoiron]

Exactly my first thought. If not, then I expect we'll see the rise of fans of a particular team who become the "in" way to receive updates. I don't think that the NFL will be happy with this potential loss of revenue. And I don't believe they'll be able to restrict fan tweets, so their only response would seem to be to provide a legitimate source--which they just banned from tweeting!

On the flip side, the NFL's ban for players, coaches, staff, etc (all except the media) makes sense: They're being paid to concentrate on the game, not on their Internet fan base.

--mark d.

[Mergatroid Mania]

I agree 100%. This was also my first thought. Just how stupid are these people that make unenforceable rules. Is it even legal for them to try and force people not to communicate? How about if a player decides to make a phone call, is that not allowed as well? Why just message services?

If I were a big football fan living in the USA I would start tweeting and facebooking and texting the scores and play by plays to my hearts content. Lets see them stop fans from using their phones.

What a bunch of idiots.

[BtmnHatesRbn]

The NFL is...nevermind, I can't post that here.

I could see how using cell phones during games could result in cheating or spying for other teams. It's impossible for the nfl to know what they are using their phones for, so why not just ban them during team events.

[Lerianis5]

Because there comes a time when you have to say that anti-cheating efforts have gone too far and infringed on the rights of the players themselves. This goes to that point!

[bosunj]

Yet more silly useless **** for Duhmerican'ts to argue over!

[Harrison912]

I mainly use Twitter and FaceBook to socially market my safety and security web site so I can understand the business side of the restrictions. There should be some control. Thanks, Don, for the report.