NFL players and coaches alike will no longer need to sit on the sidelines twiddling their thumbs if Microsoft has its way. The software giant has just agreed a deal to provide every NFL team with a bunch of modified Surface Pro 2 tablets. This is apparently not just a creative marketing tactic by Redmond though. The idea is to modernize one of the most old-fashioned yet critical elements of the game.

Up until now, when a quarterback returned to the sidelines, he and the coaches would pore over paper printouts to plan strategy. This data will now be accessible on the Surface Pro 2s. The so-called “Sideline Viewing System” is designed to streamline the analysis process by eliminating paper and enabling the staff to pinch to zoom and see details in greater clarity. Naturally, everything can be stored for quick recall and analysis.

One thing the  tablets won’t support is video replays. The NFL said  instant playback would give teams a competitive advantage that they don’t currently have. The tablets also won’t be able to access other apps or the Internet in to keep the playing field level.

The NFL’s Surface tablets have been heaviliy modified too, with extra-tough cases that can withstand rain and extreme temperatures. Whether or not they’ll still work after being trodden on by someone as hefty as William “The Refrigerator” Perry remains to be seen, however. But they should be safe from hackers at least, because they’ll run on a closed network built and secured by the NFL.

Use of Microsoft’s tablets isn’t compulsory, so adoption remains to be seen. Tablets in football aren’t a completely novel idea. Several teams were reported to be using iPads for training purposes as far back as 2011, but Microsoft is the first to get its slates on the sidelines during actual matches.

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