Around the start of the current NFL season, Microsoft wrote a fairly positive article outlining its current relationship with the NFL as the league’s Official Tablet Provider.
“Look closely and you’ll see they’re using Microsoft Surface Pro tablets to help them plan those plays,” the article says.
Added Brandon Fisher, Defensive Backs Coach for the Los Angeles Rams: “We live and die by those things on the sidelines.”
Yet, it is Week 7, and there is one NFL head coach who will no longer be using the tablet technology: New England Patriots Bill Belichick.
When asked Tuesday about the Patriots’ headsets malfunctioning on the sidelines this weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals, Belichick took it as an opportunity to publicly call out the Microsoft Surface Tablets, although never calling them by name.
“As you probably noticed, I’m done with the tablets,” Belichick said. “They’re just too undependable for me. I’m going to stick with pictures, which several of our other coaches do, as well, because their just isn’t enough consistency in the performance of the tablets. I just can’t take it anymore. … For me, personally, it’s a personal decision, I’m done with the tablets. I’ll use the paper pictures from here on, because I just have given it my best shot. I’ve tried to work through the process. But it just doesn’t work for me, and that’s because there’s no consistency to it.”
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The full rant, which can be read in its entirety here, lasted five minutes and 25 seconds according to Zack Cox, New England Patriots beat writer at NESN.
“Since Microsoft has been a partner of the NFL and implemented their technology on our sidelines, the efficiency and speed of communication between coaches has greatly increased,” said the NFL in a statement. “As with any technology, there are multiple factors that can cause issues within our sideline communications system either related to or outside of Microsoft’s technology. We continue to work with all of our partners to ensure the best systems are in place to give our clubs the greatest chance for success on a weekly basis.”
Still, this isn’t the first time that Belichick has shown his displeasure with the Microsoft Surface Tablets. Two weeks ago during the team’s 16-0 loss against the Buffalo Bills, Belichick can be seen smashing a tablet.
The league is currently in the middle of a five-year, $400 million deal with Microsoft that started in 2013. Before the current season, both parties announced upgrades to their partnership, including newly-rolled out Surface Pro 4 tablet to all 32 teams and new NFL Team Type covers.
Just don’t expect Belichick to be using a tablet anytime soon.
UPDATE: NFL released a statement Tuesday afternoon to SportTechie.
“Since Microsoft has been a partner of the NFL and implemented their technology on our sidelines, the efficiency and speed of communication between coaches has greatly increased. As with any technology, there are multiple factors that can cause issues within our sideline communications system either related to or outside of Microsoft’s technology. We continue to work with all of our partners to ensure the best systems are in place to give our clubs the greatest chance for success on a weekly basis.”
UPDATE: Microsoft also issued a statement following Belichick’s comments.
Microsoft, which makes the Microsoft Surface tablet, has responded to Bill Belichick’s comments about the product pic.twitter.com/qrB1yokUay
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 18, 2016