The NFL is very committed to exploring new markets abroad and commissioner Roger Goodell has made no secret that it’s a matter of if not when for a team to set up permanent shop outside the United States. So that’s why barely anyone bats an eye when the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers get scheduled for the first Thursday night tilt of the NFL season in Australia.
Much has been made about the team’s different approaches to the unusually long flight and time zone acclimation but I think deep down must of us know that none of that matters and once pads start colliding, precious sleep schedules will have little to do with the outcome of the game.
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Still, considerations and calculations must be made about how to tackle the 15-hour flight.
49ers defensive end Keion White revealed his unique strategy for the plane ride to reporters on Wednesday.
“I don’t know if you can OD on melatonin, but I’m gonna try” White said. “Take like, five melatonin. Go to sleep on the plane. As soon as I wake up I’m taking five more and just keep rolling like that.”
That’s certainly a move. A brief consultation of a few medical journals reveals that overdosing on melatonin is not a concern. WebMD, that site where you go whenever your body starts feeling a little weird, has the following to say:
Too much melatonin can lead to unwanted side effects. But it’s very rare for a melatonin overdose to result in death. Each form of medication has a lethal dose, or LD 50. This term refers to the amount of supplement that would cause 50% of people to die. Experts haven’t been able to find an LD 50 for melatonin. Very high doses of melatonin weren’t even fatal in animals.
Many parents out there know and tend to appreciate the calming influence that melatonin can facilitate right before bedtime. And many are very freaked out about giving their kid more than one. It sounds like White is going to put up some serious numbers in the dosage department.
White posted 18 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery with San Francisco last season so it’s also quite likely that this intense strategy also won’t play much of a factor in the game.
Still, it’s always good to have a plan.
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