In November, Dallas Cowboys' star wide receiver Dez Bryant went off on a heated locker room rant aimed at a reporter with the entire incident being captured via a writer's cell-phone cam.
Well, seemingly in response to that incident, America's Team has instituted social media restrictions for all reporters covering the team to abide by. Pretty arcane when one thinks about it, but the Cowboys do as they please, as arguably the most-powerful franchise in the NFL, despite their poor 4-9 record this season.
In essence, the rules — in effect as of Tuesday — ban reporters from live-tweeting or using any relevant social media networks (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Periscope, etc.) during open locker room and open practice sessions.
Wait ... it gets worse.
Cell-phone cameras can only be used during permissible shooting periods at practice, but only for still shots — not video — while they'll be banned outright from being used in locker rooms. Included in that is signs or personal items in and around the locker room are not to be shot or video taped.
The worst stipulation of them all is: "No detailed speculation as to the potential nature or severity of an injury or level of practice participation until the injury report is issued."
Really? Educated and especially sourced speculation is a part of reporting, so in effect, it's almost as if the Cowboys are not only trying to put social media constraints on writers, but also hinder them from actually reporting.
Obviously, this has not gone over well with beat writers covering the Cowboys.
#Cowboys adopting absurd social media rules, governing what we can and cannot report on or show you through the week.
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) December 15, 2015
Unbelievable.
