San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle looks like he’s seen a ghost and not happy, at all. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes shared his disappointment once the NFL moved to outlaw smelling salts and ammonia packets. In response, the league sent a memo to all teams, prohibiting any use of ammonia in any manner during games. Unfortunately, this decision has left Kittle heartbroken and considering his future leaving this wonderful sport.
Kittle made nine storied seasons with the Niners’ franchise. We caught up with him recently during an interview at the team’s facility, where he opened up about the experience. He admitted he’d been taking smelling salts to get a rush of energy before every offensive drive. The ban’s taken a huge toll on him, eliciting a tongue-in-cheek comment about him looking into retirement.
Our team got an internal memo today celebrating the news that the NFL has banned smelling salts and ammonia packets. I’ve nearly been in tears about it all day. Kittle stated. He jokingly said, “I thought about retiring,” underscoring how deeply worried he is about this move’s far-reaching effects.
The NFL’s memo stated that the ban is due to health concerns raised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A few years ago, the FDA started cracking down on ammonia inhalants by warning against them. They raised alarms – particularly about the lack of sufficiently tested evidence that these products enhance mental alertness or energy safely.
Kittle even cut off teammate Fred Warner’s NFL Network interview to discuss the ban. His anger was evident. And indeed, as he lamented further, “I miss those already,” signifying just how much he had grown to depend on these performance enhancers.
In reflecting on the issue, Kittle said, “We have got to figure out a middle ground here, guys. Somebody help me out. Somebody come up with a good idea. That’s all I had to get out there. Get that off my chest.” His words ring true with thousands of players who will undoubtedly feel the same way about this sudden ban.
Nick Wagoner, veteran journalist who has been covering the 49ers since 2016 with a close eye on Kittle, captured Kittle’s response. He questioned its importance, particularly in light of Kittle’s extensive history with smelling salts. Wagoner’s no stranger to covering the St. Louis Rams, with 12 years under the experience. This background provides him with a unique artist’s perspective on major NFL’s developments.
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