Jay Hawkins
Opinions Editor
jay.hawkins@hawks.shorter.edu
Photo by: MCT Campus
The Microsoft Office tablets have helped the NFL show players plays, routes, offenses, and defenses during games.
The NFL has incorporated technology into games over the past few years. Microsoft has become an important partner for the NFL, but during the AFC Championship game technology was not a friend to the New England Patriots.
According to CNET.com, in 2013 Microsoft struck a $400 million deal with the NFL to only use their tablets on team sidelines. These tablets are used for running through plays and showing defense formations.
A nationwide controversy broke in the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos.
According to CBS reporter Evan Washburn during the TV broadcast, “They’re having some trouble with their Microsoft Surface tablets. On the last defensive possession the Patriots’ coaches did not have access to those tablets to show pictures to their players.”
This happened near the end of the first quarter. The Patriots’ coaches and fans were irate. This definitely was an embarrassing incident for Microsoft.
The NFL issued a statement saying the Microsoft Surfaces were not responsible for the problem, but that it was a network issue.
Monday, Jan. 25, in Bill Belichick’s press conference, he was asked about the tablet malfunctions, according to an article by CBSsports.com.
“It is what it is,” Belichick said. “It’s a pretty common problem. We have ways of working through it. There’s really nothing you can do. It’s a fairly common problem that didn’t affect the outcome of the game — in no way. That’s just part of it. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t.”
Microsoft will most likely not let this issue arise again, but coaches and players seem to understand the complications technology can bring and try to not let if affect the game.
