When things are going as bad as they were for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, you need a little something to take the edge off.
To start the third quarter of a still tightly contested matchup with the Ravens, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield appeared to be grabbing a ZYN nicotine pouch and putting it in his mouth while sitting on the bench.
The Ravens were starting the second half with the ball and went on a drive that totaled 2:40 of game time and ended in a field goal, so Mayfield was likely done with this pouch while playing.
We all remember the days of Keith Hernandez smoking a cigarette in the dugout while manning first base for the late 1980s Mets teams, but this is a different time.
Mayfield has become a team leader in his second season in Tampa Bay after taking the team to the NFC South title a year ago.
The ZYN pouch didn’t do him any favors in the second half, though, as the team seemed to fall apart once Mike Evans went down with a hamstring injury.
With the Bucs leading 10-7 in the second quarter, Mayfield hit Evans in the hands with a sure-fire touchdown that was dropped as the receiver writhed in pain and was brought to the locker room before immediately being ruled out.
An interception ended that drive, and things fell apart from there.
Mayfield ended the game with 370 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the 41-31 loss.
With the game in its final minutes, Chris Godwin was also lost due to a dislocated ankle, which will end his season.
Tampa Bay now has the daunting task of hosting the Falcons on a short week without their top two wide receivers.
Perhaps their quarterback will need a few more ZYNs to keep it cool as he attempts to develop chemistry with backups Trey Palmer, Jalen McMillan, and ex-Giant Sterling Shepard while scouring the practice squad for depth options.