DISQUS

JoeKikta · 5 months ago

I disagree. I don't think professional sports need to address this issue at all. As long as they aren't pulling their cell phones out on the field of play, who really cares? If the individual coaches and teams think it's too distracting, then let them police it and deal with their players in their own way. This isn't like using drugs to gain an advantage or driving drunk. This is Connecting with Fans in a new way. Why don't they ban in-game TV interviews? Because they're making money as a result of a better relationship with the TV networks. Maybe they should look at this as an opportunity to sell more tickets, merchandise, etc. to fans that feel more connected to the superstars of their sport because of this type of interaction. There it is. There's your money-making case for allowing tweeting during games. I expect them to retract their decision soon after reading this post. :)

Joe Smith · 5 months ago

I'm sure that @OGOchoCinco (and plenty of other creative, twitter-happy players) will find work-arounds that allow them to tweet during games.

So, players & coaches can't have cell phones around the field during games. There are other people (e.g family & friends) around the players with cell phones - and tell me you wouldn't share your Nokia or iPhone with Chad 85/Shawne Merriman/etc. if they asked to use it.

Glenn Hilton · 5 months ago

Hope they don't follow suit in the NHL. I'm looking forward to Sean Avery doing some ex-girlfriend tweet heckling from the bench when Dion Phaneuf and the Flames comes to town ¡

tpp · 5 months ago

I wonder if this has anything to do with preventing "insider betting"?

I know normally you can't bet on games that have already started, at least you can't bet on the actual outcome, but you could, in theory, place bets about 4th quarter even after the game has started.

Jahbuh · 5 months ago

So it's ok for network to strap a microphone on them for ratings but not ok for them to tweet to their fans? I bet if the network and NFL could monetize this they wouldn't have a problem.

Ryan · 5 months ago

For a pseudo point of comparison - at the World Series of Poker this year, they let people tweet in between hands up until they reach the money, then you have to wait for scheduled breaks.

ME Living · 5 months ago

Once the NFL finds a way to monetize tweets on the playing field I'm sure they will be more open to it. Some networks already do on field interviews during the game. What is the difference? Imagine if you can tweet questions to the coach during the game and the coach respond during halftime.

Ryan · 5 months ago

I like your optimism, there is no chance of having coaches respond to individual fans during the game. They'd be OVERWHELMED from day 1. Now, paying attention to fan sentiment collated via twitter is another matter...

BetUS Ian · 5 months ago

The league has had a hard time trying to tell Ochocinco what to do in the past, and it will have a harder time trying to fight this technology. Sooner or later, players will be tweeting from benches, it's just a matter of when. BetUS is excited to announce today that we'll be taking bets on which athletes will tweet during a game. Check out the odds here: http://bit.ly/19XxbH

Joel Price · 5 months ago

players seriously interested in winning won't be tweeting during a game, rule or no rule

cactus · 5 months ago

They can just use an iPod touch, it's not a cell phone. :)

steve raquel · 5 months ago

For one who works with Pro athletes and manages some of their twitter pages through fanfuego.com, I am in full agreement with the NFL decision. Here's a recent article I wrote about the impact twittering during games would create if allowed.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/214920-ochoc...

We will see if OchoCinco, if not other abide by it.