Is the NFL’s game plan to use Twitter a brilliant marketing strategy or are they opening themselves up to new public relation blunders?

This is the first NFL training camp where the NFL has featured Twitter as a new marketing vehicle to expand it’s reaches and bring football fans closer to the game.

While the NFL league office recommends that clubs allow their players to Tweet, some clubs don’t agree.

Take for instance, the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos. Both teams ban their players from tweeting from training camp. Bans go against a league memo sent last week to all teams that recommended best practices regarding Twitter. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy stated “We recommended that clubs allow limited live reporting from practices that are open to the public, subject to the guidelines set by the clubs on the issue”.

There are also concerns among the clubs that players may not what they should and should not be tweeting. Cincinnati Bengal wide receiver Chad Ochocinco announced his intention to tweet from the sidelines during games, apparently not aware of the ban on any kinds of outside communications on game day. Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe decided to show how bored he was during first day of training camp by tweeting “ZZZZZZZZZZZ” from a meeting. He later tweeted that he was referring to an “administrative” meeting, not a team meeting. And now the San Diego Chargers ordered star cornerback Antonio Cromartie to pay $2500 for using Twitter to comment on the “nasty food” in training camp.

Although the use of Twitter will undoubtedly cause some PR problems, it offers the NFL a “free” venue to market it’s product worldwide, and brings the diehard football fans even closer to the game. Using Twitter also puts the NFL on the forefront in the new media age – where information is instantaneous and just a few keystrokes away.

The NFL’s decision to adopt as it’s social media venue is a brilliant marketing decision. You can bet that controversial Tweets by NFL players will only help promote NFL football.

source: technewsworld.com

GAME INFO
Teams: Cleveland Browns Vs. Tennessee Titans
Date: Sunday, December 7, 2008
Time: 1:00 P.M. EST
Venue: LP Field, Nashville, Tenn
TV: CBS

SPREAD
Tennessee Titans ( -10 1/2 ) Under/Over (37 1/2)
The spread has actually shrunk from 14 points to 10 1/2

TEAM STATS
The Cleveland Browns are 4-8 this year. They are 3-2 on the road, 1-3 in the AFC North and 3-6 in their conference. They have score only 213 points while giving up 247.

The Tennessee Titans are 11-1. They are 5-1 at home, 4-0 in the AFC South and 7-1 in their conference. They are in first place in the AFC. The Tians have scored 304 points while giving up only 175.

PREVIEW
This is a contest that clearly looks to be lopsided and unless the Titans shoot themselves in the foot, it will be tough for the Browns to come up with a victory. The Browns did play well defensively in last week’s loss and could make it a game, if the Titans don’t play at a high level. But with so many critical injures — QB Brady Quinn, QB Derek Anderson and TE Kellen Winslow — Tennessee could dominate this contest. Look for Cleveland to play hard and the Browns’ coaching staff will be creative in developing its game plan, including a Wildcat-type philosophy.

KEY INJURIES
The Cleveland Browns are without their two starting quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. TE phenon Kellen Wiislow is also out. It looks like the Titans could dominate this contest.

MORE INFO
The Tennessee Titans completed a late run to the playoffs last year with a victory in the final game of the NFL regular season. This season, the Titans don’t have to wait until the last minute to make plans for January. Tennessee can wrap up its first division title since 2002 on Sunday when it hosts Cleveland, the team it beat out for the AFC’s final wild card berth a year ago. The Browns and Titans were both 9-6 heading into Week 17 last season.

PREDICTION
Tennessee Titans in a blowout. 31-6
Cleveland is out of the playoff race and are going with an untested quarterback. The Titans can wrap up the Division title with a win on Sunday.