Logo

Giants Accuse Chiefs of Supplying Smelling Salts to $26M Star During Road Win


Sep 22, 2025 — East Rutherford, NJ
— The Kansas City Chiefs’ Sunday night victory over the New York Giants has been overshadowed by controversy after the Giants accused the Chiefs of supplying smelling salts to their $26 million star, kicker Harrison Butker just minutes before kickoff at MetLife Stadium.

A video widely shared on social media appeared to show Butker crouching near the sideline, cracking open a small capsule, and taking a deep inhale before jogging back toward the special-teams unit. Giants officials allege the stimulant was not self-supplied but provided by Chiefs staff — a violation of the NFL’s 2025 rule prohibiting teams from distributing smelling salts.

“The league made it clear this offseason — teams are not allowed to provide smelling salts to players under any circumstances,” a Giants spokesperson said Monday. “If Kansas City really handed Butker that edge right before kickoff, it undermines fair competition. We expect the NFL to investigate thoroughly.”


The Chiefs have not yet issued an official response. Butker, who converted all three of his field-goal attempts and two extra points in the 22–9 win, brushed off the speculation when asked postgame.

“I’m focused on my job, nothing else,” Butker told reporters. “My priority is execution and helping this team finish drives with points.”

The NFL confirmed it has opened an inquiry into the matter. While smelling salts remain legal for individual use, teams are strictly prohibited from supplying them to players at any point during games.

Any punishment would likely come in the form of fines or warnings rather than impacting the game’s outcome. Still, the incident has placed new scrutiny on a long-standing sideline ritual that, until now, had rarely drawn this level of attention from league officials.

Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side