Another day, another step closer to the inevitable demise of Dunder Mifflin.
Via JoeBucsFan.com, the Buccaneers will dump laminated play sheets and instead use tablets on the sideline during games.
The disclosure came last week from NFL Chief Technology Officer Michelle McKenna-Doyle in remarks to the Tampa Bay Technology Forum’s Professional Women’s Networking luncheon.
“We’re having to teach some of the coaches of a certain generational age who have been slower to adapt,” McKenna-Doyle said, via the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
It’s unclear how far teams can go with the use of the tablets during games. Presumably, teams won’t be allowed to stream the broadcast of the game. JoeBucsFan.com mentions the possibility of using the tablets to sift through down-and-distance scenarios, an intriguing option. It likewise could be used for clock management and making the decision on whether to go for two.
Still, it will be odd to see the coach holding not a play sheet but a tablet in front of his mouth as he’s relaying the call to the quarterback. But think about the cash the NFL could make from putting a corporate logo on the back of that tablet.
UPDATE 9:46 a.m. ET: The league has provided to PFT more information about what can and can’t be done with the tablets during games.