The NFL will seemingly not take action against Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield despite his illegal sideline behavior.
Mayfield was unable to inspire the Bucs to victory against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football as they were beaten 41-31 in Tampa. The 29-year-old threw 370 yards for three touchdowns with two interceptions during the game.
However, an off-field incident overshadowed his work and left him sweating over his involvement this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mayfield was spotted by television cameras using a smoke-free nicotine pouch on the sideline during the game.
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The NFL prohibits the use of the tobacco-related products on the field and during interviews. The pouches are known for their perceived calming effects and are most commonly consumed after training or competition. But according to ESPN, source told it Mayfield will not be disciplined.
It’s said by the source that Mayfield would receive a letter reminding him that he should not be using the product on the sideline and was warned he could be subject to a fine it the incident occurs again. The NFL rulebook states: “Among the types of activity that are prohibited are use of tobacco products (smokeless included) while in the bench area.”
Zyn, the brand that was purportedly used, has also spoken out. “Swedish Match appreciates its loyal consumers and encourages them not to show the product in any situation where someone under 21 years old could see it,” a spokesperson told TMZ. “The product is marketed only to current nicotine consumers 21 years old and over as a better alternative to continued smoking and other traditional tobacco products.”
Mayfield was spotted taking a nicotine pouch (
@NFL)
While the news was a relief for the Bucs and Mayfield. Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith received a fine from the league after it was ruled on Friday that he used a hip-drop tackle on Bucs receiver Chris Godwin during the clash, as per the ESPN source. Smith’s tackle on Godwin happened with 1:04 remaining in regulation, leaving the receiver with a dislocated left ankle. Smith will reportedly get a league-mandated fine of $16,833, which he can appeal.
The NFL defines a hip-drop tackle as taking place when a defender “grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms,” and “unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.” The league voted unanimously to ban hip-drop tackles after a review of 20,000 tackles from 2022-2023 determined hip-hop challenges cause injuries 20 times higher than other tackles.
Mayfield will not be punished for the incident (
@NFL)
Smith sent his best wishes to Godwin on Thursday as he told reporters: “First and foremost, just send prayers and a speedy recovery out to Chris. I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a player, what he’s accomplished throughout this league, and the little I’ve seen of him he seems like a really good dude, and what I’ve heard, a good family man.
“You never want to see anybody go down with any kind of injury, but we play a very physical game and it demands a lot. Bullets are flying pretty fast, but I never go into any game meaning to injure any player. I want every player to go back home safe and sound to their family, maybe a little sore, but I definitely want you to get back home safe and sound.”
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