The Baltimore Ravens found themselves in a tight spot after allegations arose against kicker Justin Tucker earlier this year. No court, be it civil, criminal, or the innate 'Court of Commissioner Goodell,' has pointed fingers at Tucker, who vehemently denies any allegations of misconduct during his massage sessions. Yet, the Ravens stepped away from him on Monday.
Kickers are a dime a dozen in the NFL, and as Tucker’s performance has slipped from perennial Pro Bowl levels, the decision became clearer. The Ravens, pondering whether to keep a $4.2 million-a-year kicker amidst a whirl of distractions, decided to part ways. With trusty kickers lurking in every corner, the move was on the horizon since day one.
The Ravens artfully timed their dance around league rules. They postponed the cut until after the new league year in March, saving cap space thanks to a post-June 1 designation. Eyeing Arizona’s Tyler Loop in the sixth-round draft and giving him a shot at the rookie minicamp was strategic, keeping rivals guessing.
When General Manager Eric DeCosta termed this as a “football decision,” few eyebrows raised. Daily, players shuffle and shift for myriad football reasons with no challenge mechanism in the CBA to contest this churn. Should off-field incidents have nudged the decision, it stays under wraps. An open admission risks CBA tangles and could give Tucker leverage to argue under “one punishment” mandates, attempting to skirt the ongoing Personal Conduct Policy probe.
Strategically weathering the light P.R. storm that dusted their path, the Ravens waited. 2024’s playoff run behind them, DeCosta assured Tucker’s spot in 2025, until the controversial swell. Ultimately, they held steady until post-draft before acting.
On the eve of the final decision, Coach John Harbaugh reiterated football was the sole consideration. The statement was overbaked, attracting media critique, most notably from Brandon Kleen of AwfulAnnouncing.com. In a straight-shooting admission, the Ravens might have claimed, “Justin was stellar, but last season didn’t exemplify that. Allegations stacked high; 16 people couldn’t all be fabrications in a landscape where his gameplay just doesn’t shine enough.” Yet, that day never came.
In the end, while the Ravens brace for more P.R. scrutiny, their approach shields them from revealing fingers pointing to non-football incentives. Their move foresees tomorrow’s brighter headlines, leaving Tucker in search of fresh NFL ground.
Undoubtedly, the entire saga was deftly orchestrated from the moment they decided Tucker wouldn't see the field in 2025.
