Ravens Pro Bowl Kicker’s Future in Limbo Amid New Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Just under two weeks into the Ravens' offseason, it has already gotten off to an eventful start. Earlier this week, on Thursday afternoon, a bombshell report from The Baltimore Banner revealed sexual misconduct allegations against Ravens’ seven-time Pro Bowl kicker Justin Tucker. According to the report, six massage therapists accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior at four different high-end spas in the Baltimore area between his rookie season in 2012 and 2016. Now, as of Saturday morning, new developments have emerged. Justin Fenton of The Baltimore Banner posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, about a letter from another woman, bringing the total number of accusers to nine.
In the newest set of allegations released on Saturday morning, a letter from a former employee at the luxury spa, The QG, alleged that Tucker acted sexually inappropriately, similar to the six original allegations, which included exposing his genitalia and leaving what appeared to be ejaculate on the massage table after the encounters. In the letter, the former employee, identified as M., shared, “I understand that Justin Tucker is an important client to The QG, but as an employee of The QG who has tolerated the previous interactions with him, I no longer feel safe or comfortable working with him.” Since the first report by The Baltimore Banner, Tucker and his defamation lawyer have emphasized his denial of the accusations, saying in a statement that the claims are “unequivocally false” and labeling the investigation by The Banner as “desperate tabloid fodder.” Along with Tucker’s statement, the Ravens released a brief statement on Thursday, stating that they are aware of The Banner's story and that they take “allegations of this nature seriously.”
With the allegations brought against Tucker, the NFL is now starting its investigation into the matter to determine whether the 35-year-old violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which could result in significant punishment, such as a suspension. Unfortunately, this is not the first time the NFL has had to deal with similar accusations against players, as Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by more than two dozen women, which resulted in Watson being suspended for 11 games during the 2022 NFL season and settling most of the civil lawsuits. From a Ravens standpoint, Baltimore has stated in the past that it has a policy described as a “zero-tolerance policy”; however, its application appears to be more nuanced. Head coach John Harbaugh referenced the policy in 2022 when asked about the Watson case, stating, “Basically, we're kind of zero tolerance. You have to know the truth, you have to try to understand the circumstances, but we’ve stayed away from that particular situation.” With the latest developments in the allegations against Tucker, Baltimore’s policy regarding this matter will likely be tested, as Tucker’s future remains in limbo with both the team and his career in the NFL.
