Latest news with #PersonalConductPolicy
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Rashee Rice returns to practice with Chiefs after legal drama, joins Patrick Mahomes to refocus on 2025 NFL season
Rashee Rice returns to practice with Chiefs after legal drama (Image via AP) Amid mounting legal troubles, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is back on the practice field, focused on redemption ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Despite facing serious charges from a high-speed crash in Dallas involving a luxury Lamborghini Urus, Rice is receiving strong support from Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes. High-speed crash sparks legal chaos On March 30, 2024, Rashee Rice was driving a rented Lamborghini Urus at speeds exceeding 115 mph on U.S. Highway 75 when he lost control, triggering a six-vehicle collision. SMU cornerback Teddy Knox, driving a Chevrolet Corvette, was reportedly racing alongside him. The crash injured four people, including two children, who were hospitalized. Both drivers fled the scene without aiding victims, resulting in eight felony charges against Rice, including aggravated assault and failure to render aid. The exotic SUV sustained heavy damage and is now part of a separate civil dispute with the rental company. Rice turned himself in to authorities in early April and was released on bond. He has publicly accepted responsibility and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. Legal storm brews, but Patrick Mahomes signals faith in Rashee Rice's growth Despite the legal cloud, Rashee Rice has been actively participating in the Chiefs' offseason workouts. His presence at OTAs signals that the franchise, especially Patrick Mahomes, isn't turning its back on the young receiver. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo His steady influence remains the heartbeat of the Chiefs' locker room and could prove pivotal in helping Rice get back on track. Patrick Mahomes signals faith in Rashee Rice's growth (Image via Getty) Also read: Randi Mahomes' inspiring rise: Turning single-mom challenges into support for youth athletes The NFL has yet to issue any suspension, pending the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings. However, a penalty under the league's Personal Conduct Policy remains a possibility. For now, Rice is focused on rebuilding his reputation—both in court and on the practice field. With Mahomes backing him and the Chiefs looking ahead to another Super Bowl run in 2025, Rice's redemption story is far from over, but every step now counts.
NBC Sports
06-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Until NFL investigation ends, Justin Tucker could have a difficult time finding a new team
The Ravens have released kicker Justin Tucker. Once the transaction becomes official (presumably today), Tucker will become a free agent. In theory, he'll be able to sign immediately with any team. As a practical matter, any interested team will likely wait. The NFL's investigation regarding the allegations made against Tucker (he denies them all) will continue. He could eventually be suspended. It's sensible to assume that teams will wait for the decision to be made — and the suspension, if any, to be served — before offering him a roster spot. Beyond the potential P.R. impact of bringing a kicker who doesn't kick as well as he once did to town, Tucker's next team won't know when it will be able to use him until the suspension, if any, is served. If that's how it plays out, it becomes important for Tucker to get this behind him as soon as he can. If it lingers into the 2025 season, he'll be essentially suspended. That could make a negotiated outcome more attractive to him, with Tucker's representatives and the league reaching an agreement on a number of games. The 2020 CBA changed the landscape regarding Personal Conduct Policy cases. Now, a third party conducts a hearing and makes findings of fact that cannot be appealed. There's risk for both sides. Judge Sue L. Robinson (who handled the Deshaun Watson case in 2022) could find that the evidence shows wrongdoing by Tucker. She also could find that the evidence falls short of proving that he did anything. Still, if it lingers, Tucker loses. He needs to get this resolved by Week 1, if his goal is to end up with a new team as soon as possible. It's still possible for a new team to decide to give him a shot, knowing that if/when he's suspended, another kicker will be needed. Still, few teams will want to embrace the scrutiny that would go along with welcoming Tucker to town under the cloud of unresolved allegations involving misconduct during massage-therapy sessions. Especially since the supply of competent kickers always outweighs the demand — and since Tucker wasn't in 2024 the kicker he used to be.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens made a "football decision" (wink, nod) about Justin Tucker
The Ravens have been in a delicate spot from the moment the first allegations surfaced in January against kicker Justin Tucker. On Monday, they made an indelicate exit from the relationship. On one hand, there have been no findings that Tucker has done anything wrong, in civil court, criminal court, or the Court of Commissioner Goodell. Tucker has unequivocally denied the numerous accusations of misconduct during massage-therapy sessions. Advertisement On the other hand, he plays a position that is as interchangeable as they come. Especially since Tucker has regressed from his previous perennial Pro Bowl-level performance. When faced with the choice between a run-of-the-mill kicker who is creating a significant distraction and is due to make $4.2 million this year and one who isn't, it's a no-brainer. And with run-of-the-mill kickers available anywhere and everywhere, the Ravens were always going to be moving on from Tucker. They opted to do the dance. To wait until after the start of the new league year in March, when Tucker could be released with a post-June 1 designation and significant 2025 cap savings. To wait until after they could use a sixth-round pick on Arizona kicker Tyler Loop, without their potential selection of a kicker during the draft being obvious. To wait until they could get a look at Loop during this weekend's rookie minicamp. The fact that it was couched by G.M. Eric DeCosta as a "football decision" is no surprise. Players are released for football reasons all the time. There's no mechanism in the Collective Bargaining Agreement for challenging the constant churn of football decisions. If the decision was influenced (as it likely was) in whole or in part by non-football reasons, the Ravens would have invited a potential CBA issue by saying so. At a minimum, Tucker could have argued under the "one punishment" principle that the team's decision to release him in the aftermath of the allegations should short-circuit the pending Personal Conduct Policy investigation. (He still could.) Advertisement This was all strategic and calculated by the Ravens, as all best-interests-of-the-team decisions are. After the Ravens' 2024 playoff run ended, DeCosta said he expects Tucker to be the Ravens' kicker in 2025. Then came the allegations. Instead of immediately applying a supposed "zero tolerance" policy to Tucker, the Ravens waited. They weathered a P.R. storm that was more like a light drizzle. And they were able to wait for the draft (and rookie minicamp) to come and go before making a move. On Sunday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh emphasized that the team would make football decisions only about Tucker. The next day, they made one. It most likely wasn't only a football decision. But there's no way to prove it, because the Ravens have said (and not said) all the right things about Tucker's off-field situation. All that said, DeCosta's statement seemed to be a little bit over the top. As noted by Brandon Kleen of multiple members of the sports media have questioned the tone and content of the team's announcement. Advertisement The Ravens likely would prefer to be dragged until the next bright, shiny object distracts the media (i.e., tomorrow morning at the latest) than risk inviting an argument that they were influenced by Tucker's off-field situation. Still, here's what we (or at least I) think the Ravens would have said, if they were being candid and direct: "Justin has been a great kicker. Last year, he wasn't as great as he'd been. We were willing to give him a chance to get back on track. But the off-field allegations became just too much. If it had been one or two people, we'd be willing to let it play out. But 16? It's hard to think they all are lying, and he's currently not good enough to justify circling the wagons until it all plays out." Obviously, they didn't say it that way. And they'll take some P.R. heat for it. Still, it will be very difficult for Tucker to do anything about it. And that likely has been the plan from the moment they realized that they couldn't and wouldn't bring him back for 2025.
NBC Sports
05-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Ravens made a "football decision" (wink, nod) about Justin Tucker
The Ravens have been in a delicate spot from the moment the first allegations surfaced in January against kicker Justin Tucker. On Monday, they made an indelicate exit from the relationship. On one hand, there have been no findings that Tucker has done anything wrong, in civil court, criminal court, or the Court of Commissioner Goodell. Tucker has unequivocally denied the numerous accusations of misconduct during massage-therapy sessions. On the other hand, he plays a position that is as interchangeable as they come. Especially since Tucker has regressed from his previous perennial Pro Bowl-level performance. When faced with the choice between a run-of-the-mill kicker who is creating a significant distraction and is due to make $4.2 million this year and one who isn't, it's a no-brainer. And with run-of-the-mill kickers available anywhere and everywhere, the Ravens were always going to be moving on from Tucker. They opted to do the dance. To wait until after the start of the new league year in March, when Tucker could be released with a post-June 1 designation and significant 2025 cap savings. To wait until after they could use a sixth-round pick on Arizona kicker Tyler Loop, without their potential selection of a kicker during the draft being obvious. To wait until they could get a look at Loop during this weekend's rookie minicamp. The fact that it was couched by G.M. Eric DeCosta as a 'football decision' is no surprise. Players are released for football reasons all the time. There's no mechanism in the Collective Bargaining Agreement for challenging the constant churn of football decisions. If the decision was influenced (as it likely was) in whole or in part by non-football reasons, the Ravens would have invited a potential CBA issue by saying so. At a minimum, Tucker could have argued under the 'one punishment' principle that the team's decision to release him in the aftermath of the allegations should short-circuit the pending Personal Conduct Policy investigation. (He still could.) This was all strategic and calculated by the Ravens, as all best-interests-of-the-team decisions are. After the Ravens' 2024 playoff run ended, DeCosta said he expects Tucker to be the Ravens' kicker in 2025. Then came the allegations. Instead of immediately applying a supposed 'zero tolerance' policy to Tucker, the Ravens waited. They weathered a P.R. storm that was more like a light drizzle. And they were able to wait for the draft (and rookie minicamp) to come and go before making a move. On Sunday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh emphasized that the team would make football decisions only about Tucker. The next day, they made one. It most likely wasn't only a football decision. But there's no way to prove it, because the Ravens have said (and not said) all the right things about Tucker's off-field situation. All that said, DeCosta's statement seemed to be a little bit over the top. As noted by Brandon Kleen of multiple members of the sports media have questioned the tone and content of the team's announcement. The Ravens likely would prefer to be dragged until the next bright, shiny object distracts the media (i.e., tomorrow morning at the latest) than risk inviting an argument that they were influenced by Tucker's off-field situation. Still, here's what we (or at least I) think the Ravens would have said, if they were being candid and direct: 'Justin has been a great kicker. Last year, he wasn't as great as he'd been. We were willing to give him a chance to get back on track. But the off-field allegations became just too much. If it had been one or two people, we'd be willing to let it play out. But 16? It's hard to think they all are lying, and he's currently not good enough to justify circling the wagons until it all plays out.' Obviously, they didn't say it that way. And they'll take some P.R. heat for it. Still, it will be very difficult for Tucker to do anything about it. And that likely has been the plan from the moment they realized that they couldn't and wouldn't bring him back for 2025.
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Browns LB Devin Bush finds himself in hot water with the law
Browns LB Devin Bush finds himself in hot water with the law Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush was arrested Sunday in Bell Acres Borough for simple assault and harassment, as first reported by Colin Dunlap of KDKA Radio. Online documents, screenshotted by Dunlap, reveal Bush awaits a preliminary arraignment. The incident puts Bush's future with the team in jeopardy and could lead to NFL discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy. Bush, who experienced a career resurgence in 2024 while filling in for the injured Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, resigned with the Browns on a $3.25 million, one year contract earlier in the offseason. However, his arrest now casts a shadow over his continued presence in Cleveland. The Browns' linebacker depth already appears precarious heading into the 2025 season. While the team added Carson Schwesinger at pick 33 in this years NFL draft, the future for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who is still recovering from the severe neck injury he sustained last season, remains unknown. Bush's legal troubles further exacerbate these depth concerns, with a potential suspension leaving the Browns thin at the linebacker position out of the gate in come this Fall.
