NFL could replace play books with iPads

The NFL isn't bright enough to see the value in iPads.

They don't even do a live game broadcast of their own over the web. They could sell reasonably priced single game tickets and/or a reasonably priced subscription that would be viewable on computers and mobile devices. The current alternative is to have an exorbitantly priced subscription with direct TV or cable TV.

I am talking about an alternative to TV-viewing on the web-no cable-no satellite dish.

it was only a matter of time... i definitely can see some implications (secure, durable, NFL restrictions) but the upside is huge (real-time info, video, uber-portable).

what happens when the iPad overheats and shuts down due to heat and being in the sun. Or when its to cold out hope they will have back ups. Also very hard to see in the sun. Maybe iPad 2 will fix that.(fingers crossed)

> Also, a lost iPad could be remotely wiped.
Remote wipe really isn't much of a security benefit. For remote wipe to work, it needs to be connected to the internet and I'd imagine if you were crafty enough to actually get you hands on a playbook, you're probably crafty enough not to connect it to any public internet as soon as you got it and be able to jailbreak it.

And why even store playbook pages on the actual device to begin with? If a team is worried about security, they'd only have access to plays over, say, a special network, too that's only accessible on the field.

As others have mentioned, the fragility of an iPad (easily breakable, not water or gatorade proof), needing special gloves for cold weather climates, hard to see in direct sunlight, etc are probably bigger motivators not to use an iPad.

This would be a major shift in NFL policy if this is allowed. Speaking as a former software developer for an NFL team, the NFL is very *very* strict about what coaches can use on the sideline. While coaches and coordinators in the booths are allowed significantly more freedom, the coaches on the field have thus far been limited to paper printouts. There was some effort a few years ago for the NFL to move to a custom device for viewing sideline photos of the game (developed in coordination with Motorola to go along with the phone carts that they developed for the NFL a couple of years ago), but I'm not certain if that device took off.

However, if they were to open the coaches to using an iPad, that would be a HUGE change in policy. The sideline viewer mentioned above was a custom device that could, by design, only view the still photos received from the sideline cameras. No video or game analysis applications. However, with an iPad, the technical options are limitless. The NFL already has individuals that sit in the press box of every game and enter play information into laptops that are connected via VPN back to the NFL offices in New York, and this play data is sent down with the video to the teams the following week. However, there would be no technical reason that this play information couldn't be captured live and entered into one of the game analysis packages out there (a couple of teams develop their own in-house packages--we were one of those teams--both all of the others use one of two packages: XOS or DVSport), and, assuming that that package has an iPad-compatible version, allowing the coaches to view play breakdown and video live on the field.

I'm not sure that such information would be helpful, but the very fact that the technical limitations against it might be removed is a very, very big deal.

A lot of Premier League clubs are doing this, using an iPad to show tactics etc.

Good luck seeing that on a sunny game day.

These would need one heck of a protective case. I've seen enough coaches spike their playbooks, headsets, etc. after bad plays. Imagine the damage they could do to an iPad?

Well, they probably won't replace play books with PlayBooks! Heyho!

I'll be here all night. Try the veal!

Actually, there are NFL rules against taking or reviewing video during a game. That's part of what got the Patriots in trouble a few years back.