The Baltimore Ravens released veteran kicker Justin Tucker on Monday. This followed an NFL investigation into allegations of improper conduct during massage therapy sessions. He was accused by 16 massage therapists from eight Baltimore-area spas of inappropriate behavior. The incidents occured between 2012 and 2016 and Tucker has denied the allegations.
Ravens general manager referred to the release as a “football decision,” despite Tucker’s longstanding contributions to the team. “Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances,” DeCosta stated. “Considering our current roster, we have made the tough decision to release Justin Tucker. 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.”
Tucker is regarded as the most accurate kicker in NFL history, with an 89.1 career field goal percentage. He also holds the record for the longest made field goal at 66 yards and helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII as a rookie. However, he is coming off his worst season as a professional, recording career lows in field goals made (22) and field goal percentage (73.3).
The Ravens recently drafted Tucker’s potential replacement, Tyler Loop from Arizona. The draft was done in the sixth round of last month’s draft.
