The Broncos this season will give personnel "iPads that feature the week's game plan, scouting reports, video clips and other relevant data," according to Andy Vuong of the DENVER POST. This could "give the Broncos a competitive edge," as only two other NFL teams -- the Ravens and Buccaneers -- have "discarded the printed playbook in favor of a tablet and an app." Broncos GM Brian Xanders said, "The advantage is that when they leave the building, they can take everything home with them very easily and watch tape at night and review the game plan installation. This is their full-time job -- to prepare and do whatever they can to help us win each week." While consumers have purchased millions of iPads since Apple introduced the tablet computer two years ago, the NFL is "starting only now to adopt the technology." The NFL does not "allow electronic devices such as tablets on the sidelines during games," but Broncos Dir of Football Information Systems Tony Lazzaro said that for the first time, "players and coaches this season will have access to those devices in the locker room up until kick off." For their digital playbook, the Broncos partnered with Colorado-based techn firm PlayerLync. The PlayerLync app "allows players and coaches to write notes and highlight the plays using the tablet's touchscreen." The playbooks are then "saved on remote computer servers, allowing players to access notes from previous games." With paper playbooks, those notes "are trashed each week." PlayerLync President & CEO Bob Paulsen said that the company "is in discussions with a handful of other NFL teams on similar initiatives" (DENVER POST, 4/23).
