Ravens Insider: Could the Ravens have worded Tucker’s release differently? Critics say yes

[ExtremeRavens]

Longtime Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was released by the team Monday, months after more than a dozen local massage therapists alleged sexual misconduct against the NFL star. Some reactions to his departure have included criticism of the team’s messaging that emphasized the positive and ignored the negative.

“Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances. Considering our current roster, we have made the tough decision to release Justin Tucker,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in Monday’s statement.

“Justin created many significant and unforgettable moments in Ravens history. His reliability, focus, drive, resilience and extraordinary talent made him one of the league’s best kickers for over a decade. We are grateful for Justin’s many contributions while playing for the Ravens. We sincerely wish him and his family the very best in this next chapter of their lives.“

An anonymous massage therapist who previously spoke to The Baltimore Sun about her experience with Tucker deferred to the attorney representing her and at least 11 other massage therapists.

“Our clients’ experiences were extremely traumatic. While have no comment on the decision to release Mr. Tucker, the continued lack of acknowledgment of these experiences is profoundly disappointing,” attorney Michael Belsky, who represents at least 12 of the massage therapists, wrote in a statement to The Baltimore Sun on Monday.

Clare Locke, an Alexandria-based law firm known for handling reputation defense cases whom Tucker hired earlier this year, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday, though the kicker has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Some in sports media questioned the tone of DeCosta’s statement.

ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes asked on X if the “fawning” tone was necessary, posting that it “ben[t] over backwards to praise the incredible resilience of a guy accused by 16 different women of sexual misconduct.”

Jared Dubin, an NFL analyst for CBS, wrote that the statement seemingly contradicted the Raven’s “zero-tolerance policy,” although it became apparent earlier this year that the team’s policy is informal, with each incident being taken on a case by case basis. 

“The Ravens want to make very sure that you know they’re not actually sticking to their self-professed organizational zero-tolerance policy and they’re only releasing Justin Tucker because he sucked last year,” Dubin said in an X post responding to the statement.

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey gave an inscrutable response to the news that his teammate was let go, leaving four “thinking face” emojis in a post on X.

https://t.co/DNVw8XeMFG

— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) May 5, 2025

The Ravens’ statement was likely trying to “reduce the offensiveness” of releasing Tucker from the team amid the allegations “by stressing good traits” he and the Ravens shared before the allegations became public said Towson University’s Juan Liu, an assistant professor of public relations, in an email to The Sun.

“This is a very popular and common crisis response strategy that has been used by many sport organizations,” Liu said.

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Despite the standing zero-tolerance policy, the Ravens recently drafted another player with sexual assault allegations against him.

Newly drafted edge rusher Mike Green has twice been accused of sexual assault, with accusations stemming from his high school days and from his time at University of Virginia.

Though other teams reportedly had taken Green off their draft boards, DeCosta said he was “comfortable” using the 59th pick on the player after meeting with him. Green has denied the allegations.

The general manager spoke directly to those concerned about the pick, seeming not to mince words.

“We investigated this situation very thoroughly,” DeCosta said on April 26. “He’s a talented player. We understand the severity of what these allegations were, of course. But doing our due diligence, we are comfortable with Mike.”

Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks.

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