ExtremeRavens Posted Tuesday at 05:41 PM Posted Tuesday at 05:41 PM INDIANAPOLIS — Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta called the sexual misconduct allegations against Justin Tucker — and the volume of them — “serious” and “concerning” Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine and said that the organization will wait for the league’s investigation to play out before deciding if he will remain the team’s kicker. “We’re fortunate that the league is doing an investigation,” DeCosta said. “We’ll wait as patiently as we can for as much information as we can. We’ll make our decisions based on that.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) It was the first time DeCosta spoke with reporters since The Baltimore Banner first reported last month that six massage therapists from five spas around the Baltimore area accused the 35-year-old Tucker of “exposing his genitals, brushing two of them with his exposed penis and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments” between 2012 and 2016. Since then, 10 more massage therapists have come forward with similar accusations, according to The Banner. Tucker, 35, has denied the allegations. What fate Baltimore’s longest-tenured player faces from the NFL’s investigation remains to be seen. Investigators have met with Ravens officials, DeCosta said, and were in Baltimore last week to interview Tucker’s accusers. A spokesperson from the NFL previously said the league does not provide details or updates on the review process while investigations are ongoing and that position has not changed, though the investigation is expected to take several weeks. DeCosta also said the Ravens first became aware of the allegations when The Banner was preparing its initial story on Tucker and the first six accusers. He also expounded on the team’s “zero tolerance” policy and what role if any it could play in Tucker’s future with the team. “I think the biggest thing that we have to do is look at every single case differently,” DeCosta said. “There are no absolutes. “I think in this case, we’re still awaiting as much information as possible. We’re fortunate the league has come down to Baltimore. I’ve met with the league and I believe the league is meeting with other people in Baltimore as well. We’ll wait for the details of that investigation as well and make a decision based on that.” Asked to explain the specifics of what the Ravens’ “zero tolerance” policy is, he further clarified the organization’s stance. “I really can’t because we look at every case differently, and the facts in every single case,” he said. “We do this for a living. We study players, we look at background, we consider all these different things. Every case is entirely different, different facts, different situations.” No criminal or civil actions have been filed against Tucker, according to Maryland case search, It’s also unclear what punishment, if any, Tucker could face, though under the league’s personal conduct policy, players can face a six-game suspension without pay for violations ranging from assault, battery, domestic violence or sexual assault. Three years ago, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was initially suspended for six games before the NFL and the NFL Players Association reached a settlement on an 11-game suspension and $5 million fine after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Watson settled nearly two dozen civil lawsuits. What action the Ravens decide to take if Tucker faces a suspension from the league is unknown, but DeCosta did add that he met with Tucker following the initial wave of allegations. “I’m going to keep those comments to myself and personal conversations with Justin is probably the smart thing to do,” he said. “But at that point, we did meet and that’s all I’m going to say about that.” If Baltimore does decide to move on from him, though, it seems likely that would not happen until at least the start of the new league year on March 12. By doing so, the Ravens would save just over $4 million in salary cap space and can spread his $7.5 million in dead money over each of the next two years. Tucker is coming off the worst season of his career, converting on just 73.3% of his field goal attempts. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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