Ravens 'Uncrustable' Consumption Powers Dominant Season
PB&J has a whole new meaning in Baltimore.
One could argue it stands for Patrick (Queen), (Odell) Beckham Jr., and (Lamar) Jackson, but the traditional translation has proven equally enjoyable. The Baltimore Ravens' AFC-best season has reportedly been fueled by sealed crustless sandwiches, as a feature from Giana Han of The Baltimore Banner claims that the birds pecked at over 7,500 this season.
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Han's report centered on Sarah Snyder, the team's director of sports nutrition, as she prepares Baltimore for its playoff trek that begins on Saturday against the Houston Texans. Snyder, who has been with the team since 2019 according to her LinkedIn page, explained the phenomenon to Han, reasoning that the ingredients carry "protein and carbohydrates through easily digestible ingredients."
“I know the texture is a big part of it," Snyder said. "The texture, flavor, taste, all those things contribute to (the players) coming back to them.”
Though Han doesn't name the product at the Ravens' request to avoid corporate ties), the mention of appropriate "purple packaging" hints at "Uncrustables," a popular snack created by The J.M. Smucker Company ... which is ironically based in Ohio, home of the hated Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.
Snyder's name won't appear in the Ravens' starting lineup come Saturday but she has nonetheless been an MVP in the team's climb to the top of the AFC bracket. She frequently keeps the Ravens' snack wall stocked as go to and from practices and meetings, a quest that has worked through 6,200 sticks of beef jerky and 1,800 bags of sunflower seeds.
Her efforts have left the players both grateful and impressed.
“When you see the display out there, a lot of guys walk by and are like, ‘I didn’t know those were healthy options,’” right tackle Morgan Moses said. “So not only do you get to pick and choose what you want, you’re learning as you go these are healthy options you can grab at home.”
"Sarah is an amazing resource for our players, and we are fortunate to have her on our Wellness team," general manager Eric DeCosta said upon her entry, per Ryan Mink of the team's official site. "She's on the cutting edge of everything that is diet and nutrition, and her passion and determination are on display daily at our training facility.
Snyder's impact has been quite apparent on both the professional and amateur gridiron postseason pictures: both of her NFL employers, Baltimore and Detroit (where she was situated between 2016 and 2019) will play for a conference title game appearance this weekend while her former employers at the Univeristy of Michigan recently prevailed in the College Football Playoff.
