Lavonte David Uses Smelling Salts Before Every Drive
August 18th, 2025
Lavonte David loves a good wake-up call, one that doesn’t involve Kirk Cousins carving up his defense like a Thanksgiving turkey.
A couple of weeks ago, David sat down with Kay Adams of Up & Adams at One Buc Palace and revealed he’s a smelling salts guy. Not just pregame, David said, he’s inhaling every time he takes the field.
“As a competitive person, you need something to get you going,” David said. “Some people like coffee, some people like energy drinks, some people like whatever it may be. But for me, those things don’t work right away. But smelling salts, they wake you up and get you going right away. Ever since 2012, my rookie year, I needed, I had to take a smelling salt before each drive — to this day. Thirteen years I had to take a smelling salt.”
Damn, Joe’s glad the NFL didn’t ban those things.
David was asked what’s happened when he forgot a hit of smelling salts, “They come find me if I forget. That how bad I needed it.”
Joe’s just glad David didn’t overdose on smelling salts in 2019, when Jameis Winton turned the ball over so many times.
August 18th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
is bowles a salt smelling type of guy lol
GO BUCS!!!!
August 18th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Funny, I need smelling salts too before the defense takes the field!
August 18th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
seems like a good opportunity for an endorsement. on a side note listening to gmc on eisen show , last week he was on jim rome. hes personable but i just dont see the expertise exuding from him
August 18th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Wondered if the NFL ever considered banning them. I found this:
Teams are banned from providing or supplying smelling salts to players. This applies to all club personnel, including doctors, trainers, and coaches. The league made this change based on a 2024 FDA warning and the concern that smelling salts can mask the symptoms of a concussion.
The NFLPA (NFL Players Association) sent out a memo to players to clarify that while teams can no longer distribute the products, a player can still bring them and use them on the sideline.
So apparently Baker uses them as well.
August 18th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
geno711 Says:
Wondered if the NFL ever considered banning them.
^^^^^^^
I spoke with a sports medical professional (and relative of a long-time Saints employee) about this topic. She said medical pros historically use smelling salts when players gets hit hard on the field and are foggy or knocked unconscious. The smelling salts can produce a violent neurological reaction that makes the player’s head jerk. If they player has a neck injury (ie fractured neck), the head-neck jerk could result in additional and serious damage.
August 18th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
LVD’s coke.
August 18th, 2025 at 1:58 pm
ports Illustrated projected that the Buccaneers will finish their 2025 docket with a 12-5 record and the No.1 seed in the NFC.
August 18th, 2025 at 2:01 pm
“Damn, Joe’s glad the NFL didn’t ban those things.” – Apparently they did…in a way.
August 18th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Be hard for a concussed player knocked out on the field to give himself the salts so it seems like a good rule.
August 18th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
Didn’t the NFL ban them? Saw a Baker interview talking about it.
August 18th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
Hey, at least Lavonte is honest about it. Since 2012 was surprising though. Such a long time.
August 18th, 2025 at 2:35 pm
Joe, that was funny
August 18th, 2025 at 2:37 pm
LOL I need some after every Bowles Blunder.
August 18th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
The NFL is just no longer providing smelling salts for players. If the players want smelling salts, they have to buy the SS themselves. That is all.
August 18th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
Ahhhh smelling salts. The NFLs version of pine tar. Because banning pine tar completely eliminated pitchers from using it lol?
August 18th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
BYOSS
August 18th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Gonna be lots of smelling salt hidden in towels
😇
August 18th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
Supposedly they are not good for your brain.
August 18th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
i use them each time i jump onto us 19
August 18th, 2025 at 4:44 pm
I’m thinking I’d like to try the stuff. Just not sure what I’d use it for. Oh, Bother!
August 18th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
“What’s that?”
“Smelling salts”
“What’s it do?”
“It sends and electric jolt down all your nerves gets you pumped up to feel like you could run through a wall, and tackle anyone, but the NFL banned them so they’re totally unsafe.”
“I think I want me some of them there smelling salts.”
August 18th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
Loving these comments! Good laughs.
August 18th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
We used smelling salts in high school before swim meets, especially important races like state championships. Stuff works!
August 18th, 2025 at 7:56 pm
Pretty sure Jameis was doing bath salts before each drive.