While some NFL coaches resisted moves to make game-day video available on the sideline tablets they now use to studies plays and formations, the matter will be discussed again at the spring meetings, sources said, as the league continues to push to be at the forefront of technology.
Coaches like Bill Belichick, Ron Rivera and Bruce Arians argued passionately against allowing playback of game-day video a year ago, catching some at the league office off guard. Coaches would be able to automatically download the video of a just-completed drive and use it to make adjustments, but the above coaches and others believed it was unnecessary and that it provided too much information in real time and in some ways cheapened the midweek preparation they did.
Regardless, the league has the capabilities to put that video in place as it stands at sideline kiosks and will again discuss the issue this spring. Roger Goodell has strived for the league to be at the vanguard of technology and development, and one league source opined it's not out of the question the matter could be brought to a vote at a time when the coaches are not present (as was the case when the owners voted to change the overtime rules a few years back).
Some of the younger coaches were much more comfortable with the idea of viewing and manipulating the game-day video after each possession. Coaches can currently make notations and alterations to the still pictures that are captured on the tablets as opposed to the old printouts that used to be staples on the sidelines during games.
