Former NFL kicker Justin Tucker, who was released by the Baltimore Ravens following serious allegations, is now attempting a dramatic return to the league with a tryout for the New Orleans Saints.
The 36-year-old has just completed a 10-week suspension handed down by the NFL for violating its personal conduct policy, a punishment connected to accusations of sexual misconduct made by multiple massage therapists.
Allegations and Fallout in Baltimore
Tucker's suspension and subsequent release from the Baltimore Ravens in May stemmed from allegations brought forward by 16 massage therapists across eight different spas and wellness centres in the Baltimore area.
The alleged incidents were said to have occurred between 2012, which was Tucker's rookie season with the Ravens, and 2016. Among the specific accusations levelled against the married kicker were claims that he repeatedly and deliberately exposed his erect penis, with two therapists alleging he brushed them with it. On more than one occasion, he was also accused of leaving what appeared to be ejaculate on the massage table.
Throughout the scandal, Tucker vehemently denied any wrongdoing, branding the accusations as 'shocking and heart-breaking'. His wife, Amanda Bass, whom he married in 2015, also publicly stated her full support, saying she believed her husband had been 'falsely' accused.
The Path to a Potential Comeback
After a five-month investigation, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell officially lifted Tucker's suspension earlier this month, clearing the way for a potential return to professional football.
This opportunity materialised when New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore confirmed that both Tucker and Cade York would try out for the team. This decision came after the Saints' regular kicker, Blake Groupe, missed two field goals during a game on Sunday.
When questioned about how the team would handle the past allegations against Tucker, Coach Moore indicated that it would be part of their evaluation process. 'That's all part of the visit and the conversations you have to have,' Moore stated. He added that while evaluating a player's on-field ability is crucial, the team also needs to 'get to know the people and get to know maybe a circumstance here and there'.
A High-Profile Career in Limbo
When the Ravens cut Tucker, it marked a sudden end to his 13-season tenure with the team. At the time of his release, he still had three years remaining on his four-year, $22 million contract, a deal that had made him the highest-paid kicker in the entire NFL.
In a curious statement following Tucker's departure, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta made no direct mention of the scandal, instead praising Tucker's reliability and extraordinary talent and framing the decision as a difficult football-related choice.
As Tucker steps onto the field for his tryout in New Orleans, the Saints' personnel department faces the significant task of weighing his proven athletic prowess against the serious off-field conduct that led to his suspension, determining if a blockbuster NFL comeback is on the cards.
