No Smell League: NFL Bans Smelling Salts According To George Kittle
Image: Fox Sports
By Aidan Sidoti
Did they also ban coffee?
I mean, let the guys smell some salts for God’s sake!
“I considered retirement,” Kittle revealed, announcing the smelling salts ban on NFL Network, crashing teammate Fred Warner’s interview before calling for a “middle ground” between the league and players.
Smelling salts and ammonia packets have long been a distinctive staple of NFL culture, used by players for an immediate burst of focus before heading onto the field.
League officials are reportedly concerned about the health implications of how much they’re used, as the NFL continues to prioritize player safety.
In a memo distributed to all 32 NFL teams on Tuesday, the league announced its ban on ammonia inhalants, citing concerns that they “have the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion.”
You can’t fault the league for trying to reduce the risk of CTE, but man, some players are going to be PISSED.
“I use them every drive,” Kittle admitted.
He isn’t alone. Players across the league have relied on the immediate surge of smelling salts as part of their pre-snap ritual.
It remains to be seen what this “middle ground” will actually look like.
