INDIANAPOLIS -- Cheerleaders have become the latest target, or possible scapegoat, in the National Football League's efforts to stop sideline distractions.

The league has issued a new rule about what cheerleaders can and cannot do outside an opposing team's locker room, 6Sports' Dave Furst reported.

There has not been a public announcement on the issue, but an internal memo sent to all of the league's teams spelled out the new policy, which bans cheerleaders from stretching or warming up in front of the visiting team's lockers.

"We played down in Tennessee, and it was like something from a movie," said Indianapolis Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson. "You come into the locker room and they're lined up stretching. I was like, 'What's going on here?' It's like something from 'The Longest Yard.' They're in here stretching. We're trying to get warmed up. I think that's a good rule to have."

The Tennessee Titans cheerleaders have followed this cheerleader warmup routine for the past couple of seasons, with little effect on the single players, according to several Colts 6Sports talked with.

"You might (do a double-take) but you're more focused on the task at hand," said Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden.

"There's been cheerleaders since peewee football," said Colts free safety Antoine Bethea. "We're here for business. We're here to work. So, if that's what they decide to do, we're just going to go out there and play football."

Married Colts players said the cheerleaders have had less effect on them than anybody else in the locker room.

"I don't know anything about it. If I did, I probably wouldn't care to comment on it," said Colts linebacker Rob Morris, with a laugh. "I didn't even know there were cheerleaders in the NFL."

The policy leaves cheerleaders' jittering and gyrations for the fans, something Colts players said is where it should be.

Six NFL teams don't have cheerleaders.