Ravens normal supervisor Eric DeCosta stated Tuesday that the variety of sexual misconduct allegations made towards kicker Justin Tucker is “critical and regarding” however indicated that the workforce will wait earlier than figuring out his future in Baltimore.
“I believe we’re lucky that the league is doing an investigation,” DeCosta stated on the NFL scouting mix. “We’ll wait as patiently as we are able to for as a lot info as we are able to, and we’ll make our choices primarily based on that.”
This marked the primary time a Ravens official has fielded questions on Tucker since accusations of inappropriate habits first surfaced 26 days in the past.
In whole, 16 therapeutic massage therapists from eight high-end Baltimore-area spas have made allegations of sexual misconduct towards Tucker, in keeping with The Baltimore Banner. The entire incidents reportedly occurred throughout periods from 2012 to 2016, which have been Tucker’s first 5 seasons within the NFL.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated the accusations towards Tucker are “not what you wish to get up and skim.”
“That is what we’re ready to attempt to do is reconcile it,” Harbaugh stated. “That is what the method is for. That is why you have to come to an understanding if you happen to can, about what occurred. We have all received questions, however no one is aware of precisely what occurred. So, let’s have a look at the place the overview takes us.”
DeCosta was requested in regards to the Ravens’ zero-tolerance stance for home violence, which Harbaugh referred to 3 years in the past when requested about Deshaun Watson’s 11-game suspension following accusations of sexual misconduct with therapeutic massage therapists. DeCosta echoed what then-Ravens president Dick Cass stated in 2015, that there isn’t a set coverage, and the workforce will take a look at every case individually.
“There are not any absolutes,” DeCosta stated. “On this case, we’re nonetheless awaiting as a lot info as potential.”
DeCosta stated he has spoken to the league in Baltimore and isn’t positive how lengthy the NFL’s investigation will take. Investigators for the NFL have been in Baltimore talking with a few of the ladies who’ve accused Tucker of sexual misconduct, a supply instructed ESPN final week.
In response to DeCosta, the Ravens have been unaware of any allegations towards Tucker till the Banner contacted them about an investigative piece on Tucker, which was later revealed Jan. 30.
DeCosta acknowledged that he has spoken to Tucker.
“I will preserve these feedback to myself … which I believe might be the good factor to do,” DeCosta stated. “However sooner or later, we did meet, and that is what I will say about that now.”
Harbaugh stated he spoke with Tucker a couple of week and a half after the allegations surfaced.
“[It was] simply extra from a perspective of being collectively for all these years, form of what he was going by … and the way he dealt with it together with his household,” Harbaugh stated.
Harbaugh stated Baltimore can be taking a look at kickers within the draft.
“We’re taking a look at each place, however I might say the kicker place would’ve been a precedence it doesn’t matter what,” Harbaugh stated. “Justin’s our kicker. We love him and I all the time anticipated him to maintain going endlessly, however no one goes endlessly.”
Tucker has denied any wrongdoing, issuing an announcement on social media Jan. 30 by which he referred to as the allegations “unequivocally false.”
He wrote that the preliminary Banner article “takes innocuous or ambiguous interactions and skews them so out of proportion that they’re not recognizable. … That is determined tabloid fodder.”
Tucker has been accused by the ladies of sexually inappropriate habits that included exposing his genitals, brushing some together with his uncovered penis and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the therapeutic massage desk.
Tucker may very well be topic to self-discipline underneath the NFL’s private conduct coverage. At his information convention throughout Tremendous Bowl week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the allegations towards Tucker, saying, “They’re clearly critical points, and he takes that critically, as are we.”
Final week, in an announcement to ESPN, a league spokesperson stated, “We don’t present particulars or updates of the overview course of whereas investigations are ongoing.”
Tucker, 35, is a seven-time Professional Bowler who’s probably the most correct kicker in NFL historical past. He’s the longest-tenured participant on the Ravens and the final remaining participant from their Tremendous Bowl championship workforce in 2012.
