In a shocking move, the Baltimore Ravens have announced the decision to release kicker Justin Tucker. This decision represents the conclusion of an era for the team. Tucker, who has been with the Ravens since 2012 and is the longest-tenured player on the roster, faced scrutiny after allegations of misconduct emerged from multiple massage therapists. As a result, these allegations have become a dark cloud over his long, successful career. He has the record for longest NFL field goal.
Despite big expectations, Tucker wilted under the pressure during the 2022 campaign. He was 31st in the league with a 73.3% conversion rate on field goals with 22 makes on 30 attempts. This deterioration in performance, along with the recent allegations, led the Ravens to reconsider their roster.
Tucker is also under fire from 16 women who have served as massage therapists. These therapists were employed at eight luxury spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore metropolitan region. According to multiple reports, several therapists have refused to work with him any longer after these occurrences. In fact, he’s been banned from at least two spas from a memo written about him. In February, the NFL began an investigation into the allegations. As a result now, Tucker is subject to potential discipline under the league’s personal conduct policy.
Despite such serious accusations, Tucker is perhaps most known for his stunning feats of accuracy while playing in the NFL. He possesses the highest career field goal conversion rate at 89.1% and is celebrated for his game-winning 66-yard field goal in 2021. In addition, he has been a huge factor in the oral success of the Ravens franchising, as he is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
Tucker has departed the team after three seasons. He was in the third year of a four-year, $22 million contract extension that had made him the highest-paid kicker in the league when signed. The biggest immediate benefit to the Ravens from this release is that they are now off the hook for Tucker’s $4.2 million 2025 salary.
Considering all that has transpired, Eric DeCosta, the Ravens general manager, could speak for the organization by saying, “It’s hard to let Tucker leave this way.
“Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances.” – Eric DeCosta
DeCosta took the time to thank Tucker for his contributions to the franchise through the years.
“Justin created many significant and unforgettable moments in Ravens history. His reliability, focus, drive, resilience and extraordinary talent made him one of the league’s best kickers for over a decade. We are grateful for Justin’s many contributions while playing for the Ravens. We sincerely wish him and his family the very best in this next chapter of their lives.” – Eric DeCosta
Head coach John Harbaugh commented on how the team plans on making decisions in the future.
“Whatever we decide to do over the next few weeks will be based on football.” – John Harbaugh
Not a monster
As Tucker enters this new and surprising chapter away from Baltimore, he continues to maintain his innocence. He vehemently denies calling the allegations against him “unequivocally false.”
The Ravens’ move to cut Tucker would be an audacious break in character for the franchise. They are clearly committed to going forward in spite of the firestorm around them. The impact of this loss will be felt by fans and players alike, given Tucker’s status as a local celebrity known for his opera singing and comedic commercials for a convenience store.
Leave a Reply