NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL suspended former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker for the primary 10 weeks of the season on Thursday for violating its private conduct coverage.
The suspension takes impact on Aug. 26, which is roster cutdown day, and Tucker is eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 11. Tucker stays free to check out with and signal with a staff. If he’s signed, he can attend coaching camp and take part in preseason video games. If he stays and not using a staff, he can nonetheless serve the suspension and return in November.
The 35-year-old grew to become a free agent after the Ravens launched him final month within the aftermath of stories that he was accused of inappropriate sexual conduct by therapeutic massage therapists. Tucker has maintained he didn’t act inappropriately whereas receiving skilled therapy.
A five-time All-Professional, Tucker has performed his complete 13-year profession with Baltimore. He’s thought-about the most effective kickers in NFL historical past, though 2024 was his worst season.
The Baltimore Banner since January has reported that greater than a dozen therapeutic massage therapists have accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual conduct.
A message searching for remark was left with Tucker’s publicist Thursday.
Tucker’s ban was much like the one obtained by Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was suspended by the NFL for the primary 11 video games of the 2022 season. He was accused by greater than two dozen ladies of sexually assaulting and harassing them throughout therapeutic massage remedy periods in Houston, when he performed for the Texans. Two grand juries declined to indict him.
Watson initially was suspended for six video games by a disciplinary officer. The NFL sought a minimal one-year suspension. A settlement was reached after the league appealed the preliminary ruling.
After the Ravens minimize Tucker, coach John Harbaugh mentioned the decision-making course of was “advanced” and indicated the staff had been involved a couple of potential suspension.
“I believe should you step again and check out all the problems and all of the ramifications, you’ll be able to perceive that we’ve acquired to get our soccer staff prepared, and we’ve acquired to have a kicker able to go,” Harbaugh mentioned late final month. “That was the transfer that we determined to make.”
___
AP NFL: