Denver Broncos ditch playbooks for iPads as they shift to technology ahead of new 2012-13 season
The Denver Broncos are going high-tech before the start of the new season as the franchise unveiled plans to replace their bulky playbooks with sleek iPads.
Each franchise in the National Football League (NFL) prints and distributes playbooks to their players which feature game plans, scouting reports and other important information crucial for players to prepare for their next game.
A 500-page bulky playbook is the norm for most franchises but according to
The Denver Post the Broncos have now replaced their playbook with a thin light iPad running a customised application that will remotely download and deliver all information the coaches want to share with their players ahead of the game.
General manager, Brian Xanders was excited at the possibilities provided by the players new iPads and told the Post.
"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."
The iPads will run an application made by PlayerLync which will allow coaches to develop notes and plays and upload them to a remote server from which the players can then download the important notes and study its contents.
The iPads according to new NFL rules are allowed to remain with the players until the kick off but are not allowed at the sidelines.
Xanders though believes that the rules will be relaxed further in the future as the technology gets taken up by more franchises.
"There was a thought that we'd use tablets and iPads to flip through those pictures, but they have not approved that yet. I can see it potentially moving that way."
The franchise has also taken concrete measures to protect all the data to stop its potential leaking to their opponents.
With its new iPads the Broncos have become the third franchise after Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens to replace the traditional playbooks.
Hopefully the franchise can now show that its shift to technology will provide dividends in the upcoming 2012-13 season but with a quarterback like Peyton Manning in their roster and a team full of talent the Broncos are already a force to contend with.
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