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Jamison Hensley
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Talking for the primary time because the 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 normal supervisor Eric DeCosta.
Tucker, the NFL’s most correct kicker, was launched by the Ravens on Could 5 amid an NFL investigation for sexual misconduct.
“I imply, you are speaking about arguably the perfect 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 sophisticated. However in the long run, all of it comes again to what it’s important to do to prepare on your crew to play the primary sport. And I feel in case you step again and also you check out all the problems and all of the ramifications, you possibly can perceive that we have got to get our soccer crew prepared and we have got 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 choice and now we now have to spend all of our focus and our time to get these kickers prepared. We have 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, ‘Now we have to have a kicker on the market making kicks,’ and what’s one of the simplest ways to get that performed?”
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 keeping with the Baltimore Banner. All the 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 look ahead to the NFL’s investigation to conclude earlier than making a call on Tucker. However Baltimore pivoted and lower 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 normal supervisor Eric DeCosta stated in a press release that it was a “soccer choice.”
Requested how this may very well be labeled a soccer choice if Tucker hadn’t kicked since January, Harbaugh stated, “Like I simply stated, it is a multilayer choice. 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 got to have a kicker able to go,’ and there is a complete lot of transferring elements of that deal. It’s simply the fact 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 charge (22-of-30) on discipline objectives 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 gained the Tremendous Bowl.
Harbaugh was requested in regards to the stage of danger concerned for a championship-caliber crew to depend on a rookie kicker.
“There’s a whole lot of dangers in life,” Harbaugh stated. “There is a danger [when] you get in your automotive; you will be driving residence on this rain. I need you to be very cautious. It may be dangerous on the market on that highway.”
