As if limiting non-licensed, online media outlets to 45 seconds of video coverage a day wasn’t enough, the NFL has decided to put their foot on the throats of cameramen too. Apparently the NFL wants cameraman to wear bright red vests with “Reebok” and “Canon” logos on the back while shooting at games this season.
This might not sound like a big deal, but the NFL is basically asking people to be walking billboards for their sponsors. Imagine if you’re a photographer that uses Nikon, but asked to slap a big Canon logo on your back just because you happen to be working at a football game that day. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s degrading, but it’s a bit ridiculous when you think about it.
If the league really cared about distinguishing who was allowed to work on their sidelines by making them wear red vests, great, slap an “NFL” logo on the back. Don’t force people to advertise for Reebok or Canon just because the companies are some your biggest sponsors – they’re human beings for cribs’ sake.
