NFL bans Twitter, Facebook before, during, and after games

The NFL has announced that beginning this season, players, coaches, and league officials will be banned from tweeting or posting Facebook updates starting 90 minutes before games and until all post-game interviews are completed. The ban extends to anyone who represents a player or coach on any such accounts as well.

But wait, there’s more. The NFL also says that members of the media will be banned from posting game updates on Twitter or Facebook as well, citing a long standing policy regarding live descriptions of games.

The ban on tweeting during games themselves has been in place for sometime now, the result of some players doing so as part of their touchdown celebrations. The reason for the extension of the ban to before and after the game is unknown but some speculate Donte Stallworth may hold some of the blame.

The disgraced star, currently suspended by the league for the entire season after being arrested and convicted of DUI and manslaughter, (Stallworth killed a man while driving drunk and received an outrageous and insulting sentence of just 30 days in jail for it) talked about his arrest, suspension and incarceration on his Twitter account, and it’s likely the league was not amused.

Whether the ban will be respected or able to be enforced remains to be seen. Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has already stated he intends to ignore the rule and tweet during his games. Since cell phones are banned from the bench area it’s not clear just how he intends to do that without risking fines or suspension.

Read [CNet]