NFL Formulating Game Day Twitter Policy
With the use of Twitter by those in the NFL, particularly players, gaining more and more attention, league officials say they are in the process of formulating a broad policy to address the use of social media platforms, including Twitter, on game days by players, coaches and other team personnel.
The policy is expected to be completed within a few weeks, NFL officials said.
The NFL has an existing policy barring the use of cell phones, computers, PDAs and other electronic devices by players, coaches and other team personnel during games on the sidelines, in the locker rooms and in the coaches' booths in press boxes.
That policy covers the time period beginning in pregame warmups and running through the end of the game, including halftime, which would seem to severely limit the ability of those affiliated with NFL teams to post to their Twitter accounts during that span.
Still, NFL officials apparently are convinced that they need an updated policy for the use of social media on game days.
That is perhaps due in part to the prevalence of Twitter use by players.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco created a bit of a stir in recent weeks by announcing that he would post to his Twitter account during games. Even if he won't be able to pull that off, even under the current guidelines, Ochocinco apparently plans to remain in the Twitter spotlight.
He had a spirited exchange Monday via Twitter with Mark Schlereth, a former player and now an NFL analyst for ESPN, about Ochocinco's approach to the sport.
After Schlereth questioned Ochocinco's approach, writing that he didn't dislike Ochocinco but did dislike some of his actions, Ochocinco wrote: "[Y]ou ain't gonna find out behind that desk, you don't know me, you only know what you see on TV just like everyone else."
Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe sparked a mini-controversy when he wrote on Twitter about being in a meeting. Shiancoe wrote: "Zzzzzz zzzzz zzz zzz (in meetings) lol.. Introducing the staff."
Less than three hours later, Shiancoe wrote a bit of a clarification.
He wrote: "My earlier tweet with the 'zzzzzzzz's' was concerning an administrative meeting and not a team meeting."
Some teams and coaches already have established their own policies. Green Bay Packers Coach Mike McCarthy reportedly threatened to impose a fine of $1,701 on any player who posts to Twitter while on the job.
Packers tailback Ryan Grant responded, naturally, via Twitter.
Grant wrote on his Twitter account for his followers to "expect tweets in the morning before we go to work, possibly around lunch time and at night once we [are] done.. [I] don't want that heavy fine[.] lol"
The New York Times reported that Miami Dolphins Coach Tony Sparano "effectively outlawed Twitter" when he spoke to his players before Sunday's opening practice of training camp.
By
Mark Maske
|
August 4, 2009; 10:49 AM ET
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League
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