Charean Williams ,
Facebook
Twitter
Email
During training camp, the NFL sent a memo to teams prohibiting them from providing smelling salts to players, citing a player-safety issue. The league, though, couldn’t ban ammonia packets without approval from the NFLPA.
Thus, players, including 49ers tight end George Kittle, are still allowed to use smelling salts as long as they provide their own supply.
Kittle, who jokingly said he “considered retirement” after hearing of the ban, uses smelling salts before every offensive possession. He told the San Francisco Chronicle that at least half of his teammates “ use them most of the time .”
Kittle supplied his teammates with the inhalants during the preseason but kept running out of them. So, he vowed to empty an “old-school” bucket of cheese balls and fill it with smelling salts for the regular season.
“During the preseason games, I was the only one who was taking initiative, and the D-line completely wiped me out in back-to-back games,” Kittle told Eric Branch of the Chronicle .
49ers guard Nick Zakelj has used ammonia packets since high school.
“It’s a meathead thing: Like, let me get juiced up before I go out there,” Zakelj told the newspaper.
The NFL’s policy came after an FDA warning about the safety or efficacy of ammonia inhalants. According to the Chronicle’s reporting, the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee’s recommendation followed Bills quarterback Josh Allen receiving an ammonia packet from a team employee as he emerged from the sideline medical tent after being cleared of a concussion against the Texans last season.
The ban, though, has not deterred players from using inhalants.
“I don’t overthink it too much, but I’m also not too worried about them not providing it either,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I feel like George will find a way.”
He has, and he will.
Big Shield combines gambling, pro football, and the mob into a cautionary tale regarding inside information, and the dangers that come from selling it.
Football is back and so are Mike Florio and Chris Simms! Watch PFT Live for the latest news coming out of the regular season, postseason and offseason every Monday to Friday at 7 a.m. ET on Peacock and the NBC Sports NOW channel.
