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Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre headphones may be the popular among NFL players, but the league apparently doesn’t feel the same way.

According to SB Nation, Beats By Dre headphones are currently banned from the NFL. The reason, according to reports, lies with a deal the league has with headphones competitor Bose.

SB Nation goes on to detail the deal, which finds Bose holding lots of leverage with its contract, including the right to keep players from sporting any other manufacturer around their ears. The extensive ban goes from practice interviews to game days to post-game locker room and podium interviews.

“Over the last few years athletes have written Beats into their DNA as part of the pre-game ritual,” a Beats spokesperson said in a statement addressing the ban while acknowledging the power of music for players. “Music can have a significant positive effect on an athlete’s focus and mental preparedness and has become as important to performance as any other piece of equipment.”

Countering Beats’ statement, the NFL’s own statement highlights how far back it’s policy on banning branded products goes.

“The NFL has longstanding policies that prohibit branded exposure on-field or during interviews unless authorized by the league, the league stated. “These policies date back to the early 1990s and continue today. They are the NFL’s policies – not one of the league’s sponsors, Bose in this case. Bose is not involved in the enforcement of our policies. This is true for others on-field.”

SOURCE: eurweb.com