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New York Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
John Harbaugh says Ravens releasing Justin Tucker was ‘multi-layered decision'
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh addressed the team's decision to release kicker Justin Tucker in May for the first time Wednesday, telling reporters that cutting ties with Tucker was 'complex' and a 'multi-layered decision.' Since January, Tucker has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by 16 Baltimore-area massage therapists from eight different spas in alleged incidents dating back to 2012. The NFL opened an ongoing investigation into the allegations in February. Advertisement In April, the Ravens selected kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, then released Tucker on May 5 for 'football reasons.' Tucker, 35, is a five-time All-Pro but is coming off a career-worst season with eight missed field goal attempts in 2024. 'If it was just a black and white simple thing, then it would be easy to understand,' Harbaugh said. 'But I think anybody can look at the whole thing in perspective and say, 'OK, we've got to have a kicker ready to go,' and there's a whole lot of moving parts of that deal.' In OTAs, Loop and undrafted rookie free agent John Hoyland have split kicking reps, with Wednesday being Hoyland's turn to handle kicking duties. 'I mean, you're talking about arguably the best kicker in the history of the game,' Harbaugh said, referring to Tucker. 'But in the end, it all comes back to what you have to do to get ready for your team to play the first game,' Harbaugh said. 'If you step back and you take a look at all the issues and all the ramifications, you can understand that we've got to get our football team ready and we've got to have a kicker to go. 'So in that sense, it's a football decision and now we have to spend all of our focus and our time to get these kickers ready. We've got a competition going on and (we've got to) get these guys ready to make kicks. So that's all I'm thinking about.' Tucker has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations 'unequivocally false.' Harbaugh, who had not spoken with reporters since Tucker's release, said Wednesday that the call to cut the kicker was a group decision involving owner Steve Bisciotti, president Sashi Brown, executive vice president Ozzie Newsome and general manager Eric DeCosta.
Reuters
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Ravens sign undrafted kicker in wake of Justin Tucker release
May 13 - The Baltimore Ravens signed undrafted Wyoming kicker John Hoyland on Monday to compete with sixth-round draft pick Tyler Loop for the job previously held by Justin Tucker. The Ravens released Tucker on May 5 amid a league investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. In a statement thanking Tucker for his time in Baltimore, executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta called the release a football decision. Tucker is accused of engaging in inappropriate behavior with several female massage therapists. Sixteen women have accused Tucker of misconduct at eight high-end spas in the Baltimore area from 2012-16. Tucker has twice publicly denied the allegations. Tucker was a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro. The Ravens drafted Loop out of Arizona, and coach John Harbaugh originally said the position battle between Tucker and Loop would be based on football, as opposed to the outcome of the investigation into Tucker. Instead, the battle will be between two rookies. Hoyland was invited to the Ravens' rookie minicamp last week and impressed the team enough to be officially signed. Hoyland went 15-for-19 on field goals and 25-for-25 on extra point attempts in 2024, his fifth season kicking for Wyoming. --Field Level Media
Associated Press
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Ravens sign undrafted K John Hoyland as they move on without Tucker. Team also drafted K Tyler Loop
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens signed undrafted rookie kicker John Hoyland, giving themselves another option for Justin Tucker's replacement. The Ravens announced the move Monday. They also signed tackle Lucas Scott and defensive back Keyon Martin. Baltimore announced last week it was releasing Tucker, the five-time All-Pro whose future was in doubt ever since the Baltimore Banner reported in January that he'd been accused by massage therapists of inappropriate sexual behavior. The Ravens drafted kicker Tyler Loop of Arizona last month. Hoyland played at Wyoming and went 15 of 19 on field goals last season, with a long of 54. Only one of the four misses was under 50 yards. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens Rookie Embracing Role As Kicker
Few rookie kickers have had bigger shoes to fill than Baltimore Ravens newcomer Tyler Loop. Loop, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was an insurance policy against Justin Tucker, who declined in 2024 but – more importantly – was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 Baltimore-area massage therapists. Advertisement The Ravens called it a 'football decision' when they officially released Tucker on Monday. It wasn't. But it put an end to Tucker's reign as a Baltimore stalwart and, possibly, his NFL career. At his first professional press conference, Ravens fans were introduced to their rookie kicker, who spoke about his reliance on mechanics and consistent improvement as he transitions to the NFL. "I'd say the one thing that I hang my hat on is being a student of craft," Loop said. "Guys in golf and baseball, you have a swing coach, because we're doing the same thing, trying to hit the same ball every time. "That's something that I really enjoy, because there are days where you don't feel good. There are days where you're not in a groove, and if you're not feeling it, you can always fall back on your mechanics to be successful and make kicks." Advertisement Meeting Tucker's standard will be a tough task. He's the all-time leader in field goal percentage and has seven first-team All-Pro honors to his name. He played an integral role in several key moments in Ravens history and helped kick Baltimore to its last Super Bowl victory. Once again, Baltimore's competitive window, and it will have another young kicker hoping to keep those dreams alive. Before meaningful January football, though, is the bad weather and intense moments every AFC North matchup seems to include. For that, the Arizona product is well prepared. "Being in the Pac-12, I got to go up to Washington, Washington State, and Oregon and play up there in some cold weather and some wind and crazy conditions," Loop said. "It's something that gets me excited. Advertisement "I think having a challenge to go conquer and a skillset to refine and really work on and become an expert of kicking in those conditions is something that gets me fired up. Learning from coaches who have been up there for a long time and learned how to be successful in the AFC North kicking, that's something that just the sound of gets me pumped up, so I'm really looking forward to it." For over a decade, Baltimore has avoided special teams uncertainty that haunts contenders and taunts the league's worst teams. Loop will be tasked with steering the Ravens around that fate. Related: Ravens Kicker Reveals Surprising Jersey Number Related: BREAKING: Ravens Release Justin Tucker
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How NFL experts graded the Baltimore Ravens' 2025 draft class
The 2025 NFL draft is over, and the Ravens did what they always do: navigated the board and came away with a deep and versatile class. Eric DeCosta added two elite defenders with their first two picks, solid depth at the offensive line, and the team's first kicker in the 30-year history of the Ravens franchise. Overall, DeCosta used all 11 picks and double-dipped at the cornerback and offensive tackle, ensuring a ton of depth at multiple positions. Advertisement Round 1, No. 27: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (No. 24) Round 2, No. 59: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall (No. 14) Round 3, No. 91: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU (No. 98) Round 4, No. 129: Teddye Buchanan, LB, California (No. 177) Round 5, No. 141: Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M (No. 205) Round 6, No. 178: Bilhal Kone, CB, Western Michigan (No. 188) Round 6, No. 186: Tyler Loop, K, Arizona (not ranked) Round 6, No. 203: LaJohntay Wester, WR, Colorado (No. 279) Round 6, No. 210: Aeneas Peebles, DL, Virginia Tech (No. 132) Round 6, No. 212: Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers (No. 228) Round 7, No. 243: Garrett Dellinger, G, LSU (No. 231) With all eyes on the undrafted free agent class and rookie minicamp, we're looking at the expert's grades for a versatile draft class. Mel Kiper gave Baltimore a B+ for their haul. 'The Ravens didn't make any in-draft trades last year; they had made only eight over the prior five drafts and traded down twice this year. They let the board come to them and got some good prospects,". Chad Reuter gave the Ravens an A. The Ravens are perennial contenders because they let the draft board come to them. Starks will be a playmaker no matter where he lines up. Green was still available late in Round 2 because of off-field concerns, but he has a chance to provide a lot of value off the edge. Jones could be a solid starter at guard or tackle in time. Pro Football Focus: A 'The Ravens let the board fall to them and take the best available player on the PFF Big Board. 'Starks brings high-level football intelligence and great anticipation to make plays on the ball in coverage.' Sports Illustrated: B 'Jones is a value pick on the offensive line, but whether he sticks at tackle or kicks inside remains to be seen.' USA Today: B 'The Ravens have significant issues here currently with K Justin Tucker (who they are apparently in the process of replacing with sixth-rounder Tyler Loop) and in their past — yet chose a guy with multiple sexual assault allegations in his past (Green has denied both),' he writes. 'Baltimore is a more talented football team today than it was a week ago, but at what cost?' DeCosta 'is one of the savviest decision-makers in football, routinely allowing the draft to come to him.' This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens earn some of the highest grades for the 2025 NFL draft class
