NFL's New Policy: Social Media Is Now A Banned Substance

It looks like Twitter, Facebook and Twitpic are now equivalent to hGH and EPO to the NFL.  They are all banned during football games for players and fans alike starting this fall.

The NFL released a new social media policy following in the steps of the initial SEC policy of restricting the use of social media during football games.

Some of the restrictions put in place include:

• Twittering during a game by either the player themselves or someone on their behalf.
  
• Any social media activity within 90 minutes before and after the game.
• Restriction applies to not only players, but coaches, team personnel, and officials.
  
• Restrictions on play-by-play descriptions of NFL games (e.g. Twittering) to only authorized media.
  

In the past, I have written in favor of restricting athletes from Tweeting during active games due to the effect it could have on their on-field play, but this new policy extends the restriction to those fans/journalists/gloggers who attempt to tell other people what's going on the field using social media channels.

Part of the restriction seems to be aimed to cut off the head of one Chad OchoCinco, who was planning on having a fan flown into each game to Tweet on his behalf.  Pure marketing genius, in my mind, for a guy who understands self promotion, but in the NFL's eyes, social media enemy No. 1.

The other part looks to keep all of those cash rich television contracts in place.  It doesn't really matter that fans, citizen journalists, and even glogger (game bloggers) have been using social media at pre-season games with much success.

While the SEC had the wherewithall to listen and adjust their social media policy based on fan response and overall common sense, I don't expect the NFL to make any adjustments to theirs in the near future.

Just as they already penalize an athlete's bad behavior or for a coach's criticism of a referee, I fully expect this policy will be enforced.

Nothing says "stop tweeting" like a $2,500 fine. Right Antonio Cromartie?

However, I don't see this policy being enforceable on any level as it relates to fans, citizen journalists or the like, but I'm going to guess that the NFL will attempt to find some unsuspecting fan to sue to show they are serious or until they realize how counter-productive it is to try to enforce it.

In the past, fans could usually voice their displeasure through turning off the TV or not showing up at games - somewhat like what happened after the 1994 MLB Baseball strike.

However, the NFL is too big, too popular and there isn't a competing sport at this time that frustrated fans can shift their allegience to show their contempt.  I'm sorry, but the UFL isn't a contender at this time.

Therefore, starting this fall, NFL fans will have to just arrive at each game with their phones hidden next to their beer cans and learn how to Tweet and Facebook without getting caught.

But if you do get caught, get ready to be tested.

If it's me, I'll be guilty as charged.

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Steve Raquel is sports fan and an online social media expert who helps individuals and businesses navigate and succeed in leveraging social media.  He also manages the online lives of dozen of professional athletes as the VP athlete relations of FanFuego.com, an online sports social network that connects pro athletes with passionate fans. Contact Steve directly at [e-mail] or follow him on twitter at @sraquel.