OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Talking for the primary time for the reason that launch of Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh acknowledged Wednesday that it was a “advanced decision-making course of” that included himself, proprietor Steve Bisciotti, crew president Sashi Brown and basic supervisor Eric DeCosta.
Tucker, the NFL’s most correct kicker, was launched by the Ravens on Might 5 amid an NFL investigation for sexual misconduct.
“I imply, you are speaking about arguably one of the best kicker within the historical past of the sport,” Harbaugh stated after the crew’s second OTA follow of the offseason. “And like we stated, it is multi-layered [and] it is difficult. However ultimately, all of it comes again to what it’s a must to do to prepare on your crew to play the primary sport. And I feel for those who step again and also you check out all the problems and all of the ramifications, you possibly can perceive that we have to get our soccer crew prepared and we have to have a kicker to go. And that was the transfer that we determined to make.”
Harbaugh added, “So in that sense, it is a soccer resolution and now now we have to spend all of our focus and our time to get these kickers prepared. We have got a contest occurring and [we’ve got to] get these guys able to make kicks. In order that’s all I am serious about. From my perspective, it is like, ‘We’ve to have a kicker on the market making kicks,’ and what’s one of the simplest ways to get that accomplished?”
Tucker, 35, has been accused of misconduct by 16 therapeutic massage therapists from eight high-end spas and wellness facilities within the Baltimore space, in response to the Baltimore Banner. The entire alleged misconduct reportedly occurred between 2012 and 2016, Tucker’s first 5 seasons within the NFL.
Tucker has twice publicly denied any wrongdoing. He has known as the allegations “unequivocally false” and described the Banner’s article as “determined tabloid fodder.”
Ravens officers beforehand stated they might await the NFL’s investigation to conclude earlier than making a choice on Tucker. However Baltimore pivoted and reduce Tucker 9 days after the crew made the historic transfer of choosing Tyler Loop within the sixth spherical of the NFL draft. That marked the primary time within the franchise’s 30 years that it drafted a kicker.
In releasing Tucker earlier this month, Ravens basic supervisor Eric DeCosta stated in a press release that it was a “soccer resolution.”
Requested how this might be labeled a soccer resolution if Tucker hadn’t kicked since January, Harbaugh stated, “Like I simply stated, it is a multilayer resolution. If it was only a black and white easy factor, then it could be straightforward to grasp, however I feel anyone can have a look at the entire thing in perspective and say, ‘OK, we have to have a kicker able to go,’ and there is a entire lot of transferring components of that deal. It’s simply the truth of it.”
A seven-time Professional Bowl participant, Tucker is coming off the worst season of his 13-year NFL profession. He missed 10 whole kicks, three greater than in any earlier season. His 73.3% conversion fee (22-of-30) on subject targets final season ranked thirty first within the NFL.
In changing Tucker, Baltimore is holding a contest between Loop and John Hoyland, an undrafted rookie kicker from Wyoming. The final time the Ravens went with a rookie kicker was with Tucker in 2012, when Baltimore received the Tremendous Bowl.
Harbaugh was requested concerning the degree of danger concerned for a championship-caliber crew to depend on a rookie kicker.
“There’s quite a lot of dangers in life,” Harbaugh stated. “There is a danger [when] you get in your automobile; you will be driving residence on this rain. I need you to be very cautious. It is going to be dangerous on the market on that street.”
