Ravens: Justin Tucker decision will be based on ‘football’ amid sexual misconduct claims - The Guardian

[Guardian sport]

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh says his team's decision about whether to keep kicker Justin Tucker will be a "football" decision amid sexual misconduct allegations against the NFL veteran.

Baltimore drafted Arizona kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round of this year's NFL Draft, underscoring how uncertain Tucker's future is. The Baltimore Banner has reported that over a dozen massage therapists have accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior. The NFL has said it will investigate the allegations. Tucker has maintained he did not act inappropriately towards any of his accusers.

"From the standpoint of the investigation and all that, we don't know anything. We haven't been given any information – as it should be. It's all done the way it's done," Harbaugh said on Sunday. "So you can't make any decisions based on that. Every decision we make has to be based on football.

"There's a lot of layers to that. You've got a rookie kicker in here. You took him in the sixth round, early in the sixth round. He's a talented guy. Just from a football standpoint – salary cap, all the different things that you just take into consideration – whatever we decide to do over the next few weeks will be based on football."

The accusations against Tucker include claims that he exposed his genitals, brushed some of the therapists with his penis and left ejaculate on treatment tables. Two spas told the Banner they had banned Tucker from returning. One therapist who spoke to the Banner described Tucker's alleged behavior as "really degrading". Another said that: "I can't watch sports anymore. I see his face everywhere."

Tucker is considered by many to be the greatest kicker in NFL history, and holds the records for longest field goal and career field goal percentage. He has been named to the Pro Bowl seven times since he joined the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. However, the 35-year-old had the worst on-field season of his career in 2024, converting just 73.3% of his field goals, compared to a career average of 89.1%.

Meanwhile, Mike Green, the Ravens' second-round pick in this year's draft, declined to discuss allegations of sexual assault that have been directed at him.

"Every team asked me, and I've been completely open about everything," Green said. "It's something that I had to go through, and I got through it."

Green played at Virginia and then at Marshall. He said at the NFL scouting combine that he transferred after being accused of sexual assault for a second time. Green told reporters at the combine that he also was accused of sexual assault in high school. He said he was never charged and insisted he did nothing wrong.

He was asked Sunday how he ended up facing two separate allegations.

"I'm just focused right now on moving forward with my career at the Ravens," he said. "I'm blessed to be here. It's an honor."

The Ravens said after drafting Green that they did their "due diligence" on him.