“The ammonia-based inhalant is manufactured for the express purpose of treating or preventing fainting, but at some point, NFL players and other athletes discovered they could repurpose the decongestant properties and adrenaline-pumping side effects into a perfectly legal, low-tech pick-me-up … even though there’s zero proof of any performance benefit.” ESPN’s David Fleming on smelling salts, the latest craze on NFL sidelines (which means they’ll be the latest craze to hit youth sports soon). Waiting To Inhale. (At 49ers games, they have smelling salts for the fans.)