NFL owners are scheduled to vote next week on allowing in-game video on sideline tablets, a proposal that was tabled in March at the league's annual meeting. NFL players for years on the sidelines have poured over still photos of the game action, and those images have been available digitally since tablets were introduced on sidelines two years ago. Some traditionalists have resisted the move to video. NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy in an email wrote the move to video would be the "next step." McCarthy: "Longstanding policy prohibited any use of computers on the sideline. Commissioner (Roger) Goodell has embraced technology and encouraged its use to improve the game. ... Football personnel have debated the use of technology on the sidelines. Some people did not want technology to infringe the human element while others wanted to see if it could help the coaches and players." MLB this year for the first time has allowed tablets in the dugout, but managers are not allowed to have video from the game. The NBA does not allow tablets courtside for coaches. The NHL, by contrast, does allow coaches access to in-game replays on tablets.
