Jan 4, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) arrives earlier than the sport towards the Cleveland Browns at M&T Financial institution Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Pictures The Baltimore Ravens launched longtime kicker Justin Tucker on Monday afternoon.
Tucker, whom the Ravens signed as an undrafted free agent in 2012, has been accused of inappropriate habits by 16 therapeutic massage therapists from eight completely different Baltimore spas and wellness facilities. The NFL has been investigating the matter, however Tucker has denied the entire allegations, calling them “unequivocally false.”
Final week, the Ravens drafted Arizona kicker Tyler Loop with the No. 186 decide of the 2025 NFL Draft. The writing was on the wall for Tucker then.
Nonetheless, only a few days earlier than releasing Tucker, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh informed the media that Baltimore’s kicking competitors could be “primarily based on soccer.” Nicely, we have now the winner of the competitors — and rookie minicamp hasn’t even began but. It’s Loop’s job now, and the legendary NFL kicker with over a dozen accusations is a free agent.
The Ravens are calling the discharge of their 35-year-old kicker a “soccer choice.” However let’s not child ourselves right here.
“Generally soccer selections are extremely troublesome, and that is a type of situations,” Ravens Govt Vice President and Common Supervisor Eric DeCosta stated in an announcement. “Contemplating our present roster, we have now made the robust choice to launch Justin Tucker.”
The Ravens performed this case completely. Tucker’s typical pinpoint accuracy as a placekicker did waver final season. On the NFL Mix, DeCosta claimed that the Ravens have a “zero tolerance coverage” for the kind of misconduct Tucker was accused of.
However how do you say goodbye to an eight-time All-Professional who nonetheless holds the file for the longest subject aim in NFL historical past? Particularly with none prison costs? You draft his substitute within the sixth spherical and blame a soccer choice. It masterfully dodges any fallout from the NFL Gamers Affiliation, who might have been upset by a participant being launched in the midst of an investigation.
Drafted kickers are removed from a assure. Lately, we’ve seen loads flame out earlier than their careers may even get began.
However there’s no kicker within the NFL who warrants the general public relations nightmare that surrounded Tucker. The Ravens simply informed you in plain English that they might somewhat roll the cube throughout their Tremendous Bowl rivalry window with an unproven kicker than make use of Tucker, who was on trajectory to grow to be a Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer earlier than these allegations.
The Ravens have stood by their fair proportion of gamers with shady rap sheets. However a kicker? The juice simply isn’t definitely worth the squeeze once you issue within the quantity of destructive, nationwide media protection they might get for permitting him to take part in coaching camp later this summer season.
Possibly Tucker finds a technique to clear his identify. Maybe it earns him that spot in Canton, Ohio’s Corridor of Fame sometime. However the Ravens didn’t discover it price their whereas to attend it out.