For the first dozen years of his career, kicker Justin Tucker was the kind of kicker any NFL team would want. He made 89.1% of his field goals, all-time, an accuracy unmatched in NFL history.
Yet Tucker, once a mainstay on NFL fields, won’t be allowed near an NFL sideline for the bulk of the upcoming season after the league suspended him for 10 weeks without pay Thursday for what it called a violation of its personal conduct policy.
The Baltimore Banner reported six months ago that 16 massage therapists had accused Tucker of unwanted advances or behavior during massage sessions from 2012 to 2016. The story prompted an investigation by the league.
The Ravens selected a kicker in April’s NFL draft and subsequently cut Tucker during the spring, even though his contract had three years left. He is permitted to sign with a team, attend training camp and take part in preseason games, but his suspension will take effect Aug. 26 and last until Nov. 11.
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Attorneys representing several of the therapists told the Banner on Thursday that the NFL’s action “validated the experiences told by each of the victims.”
Tucker has denied the accusations, and his agent said in a statement that Tucker “stands by his previous statements.”
“In order to put this difficult episode behind him and get back on the field as soon as possible, we have advised Justin to accept this resolution and close this matter,” agent Rob Roche said.
Whether another team will sign him before the preseason remains to be seen, not only because of his unavailability, due to his suspension, but also because the once-reliable Tucker made only 22 of his 30 field goal attempts last season, a 73.3% accuracy that was by far the worst of his career.
