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Rams Accuse Eagless Of Supplying Smelling Salts To $41M Star During Home Win

Sep 22, 2025 
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 What looked like an ordinary matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night quickly turned into a source of controversy after the Rams accused the Eagles of supplying smelling salts to their $41 million star, Saquon Barkley, directly on the field just minutes before kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field.

A video circulating on social media appeared to show Barkley crouching down near the sideline, cracking open a small vial, and taking a deep inhale before lining up in the backfield. According to the Rams, the act went beyond simple personal use and raised suspicion that the Eagles themselves had provided the smelling salts — a direct violation of the new NFL ban implemented for the 2025 season.

“This isn’t about rituals or pregame habits. It’s about rules and fairness,” a Rams spokesperson said Monday. “If the home team really supplied smelling salts to a player just before the opening whistle, that’s an unfair competitive edge, and we expect the league to act.”

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The Eagles have yet to issue an official comment. Barkley, who signed a four-year, $41 million deal with Philadelphia in March, brushed off the controversy following  the 33–26 win.

“I don’t get caught up in all that talk,” Barkley said postgame. “I just focus on playing ball and doing whatever it takes to help this team win.”

The NFL confirmed it has opened an investigation. While smelling salts are not banned for players’ individual use, teams are prohibited from providing them to players at any time during games.

Any potential punishment would likely come in the form of fines or warnings, not a change to the game’s result. Still, the incident has shined a spotlight on a long-standing sideline ritual that, until now, rarely stirred controversy.

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Eagles Star CB Faces Family Tragedy After Week 5 Game as Military-Trained Skydiving Instructor Dies in Nashville
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean is mourning a profound personal loss following the team’s Week 5 game , as his cousin Justin Fuller a respected military-trained skydiving instructor, died in a tragic tandem jump accident near Nashville.   Fuller, 35, was fatally injured after becoming separated from his parachute harness mid-air during a jump organized by Go Skydive Nashville. His student survived after landing in a tree with the parachute deployed and was later rescued by firefighters. Police confirmed Fuller’s body was recovered in a wooded area off Ashland City Highway. The Nashville Fire Department called it “one of the most complex high-angle rescues in recent years,” commending its personnel for the effort. Justin Fuller, known by the nickname "Spidey," died after a tandem skydiving jump went wrong on Oct. 4, 2025, near Nashville, Tennessee.  (Facebook/Justin Fuller Spidey ) Fuller, known affectionately as “Spidey,” had completed more than 5,000 jumps and trained U.S. military personnel in advanced aerial maneuvers. Friends described him as “fearless, focused, and committed to lifting others higher — both in life and in the air.”   DeJean —whose mother is the younger sister of Fuller’s mother, grew up admiring his cousin’s discipline and sense of purpose. Family members say that influence helped shape his mental toughness and leadership on the field. A relative told local media, “Justin taught Dejean that strength isn’t about being unbreakable — it’s about standing firm when life hits hardest. That’s exactly how he lives and plays today.” In the Eagles’ defensive system, DeJean has steadily earned complete trust thanks to his versatility — working outside at corner, in the slot (nickel), and on coverage units — and standing out for top-end speed, precise tackling angles, and the ability to read quarterbacks. Coaches describe him as “calm, wise beyond his years, and disciplined at the catch point,” consistently maintaining leverage and finishing clean in tight spaces. Through the first five games of 2025, DeJean has played every defensive snap and totaled 36 tackles (26 solo) with five passes defensed, reinforcing his value on the perimeter and inside.  The Philadelphia Eagles have provided time and private support for DeJean and his family, ensuring he can grieve without team-related obligations. Teammates have stood beside him, honoring both his resilience and his family’s tradition of service. An FAA investigation into the accident is underway, while tributes to “Spidey” continue to pour in across social media from military colleagues, fellow skydivers, and fans nationwide.“He taught others to fly — now he flies higher than all of us,” one tribute read. DeJean kept his public remarks brief before being embraced by teammates:“He taught me not to fear the height — only the moment you forget to look down and pull someone else up with you. This week, I’m playing for him.”