ExtremeRavens Posted Sunday at 03:37 AM Posted Sunday at 03:37 AM ARLINGTON, Texas — A handful of “Loop there it is” signs. About 30 family members in attendance. And now, officially, the Ravens’ kicker. John Harbaugh confirmed the obvious after Baltimore’s 31-13 preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium, naming Tyler Loop as the team’s kicker this season. “He’s earned it,” Harbaugh said. “He had a good night, good night on kickoffs, too. “It was good to see.” Loop’s latest performance was good, too. The rookie sixth-round draft pick out of Arizona connected on 5 of 6 field goal attempts, including ones from 53 and 51 yards. His only miss was from 50 yards. He also made both of his extra point attempts, though he did have one kickoff that went out of bounds and another that fell short of the landing zone, each resulting in a penalty, as Baltimore experimented with some different types of kicks. Still, Loop didn’t know that he’d won the job until being informed by a reporter afterward. “Nice,” he said. “That’s fun.” Even more so with a slew of friends and family at the game cheering him on with each attempt. Loop, 24, grew up about 45 miles northeast of the stadium, in Lucas, where he starred at Lovejoy High School. Now, he’ll replace an embattled Ravens legend, Justin Tucker, who was released by the team earlier this year and then suspended 10 weeks by the NFL following sexual misconduct accusations from more than 15 massage therapists from Baltimore-area spas. Not that Loop was thinking about any of that, of course. He was just happy deliver on a night when those closest to him were able to be in the stands. His performance, both Saturday night and throughout the summer, also solidified his position as the Ravens’ next kicker. So far, Loop has made 6 of 8 field goal attempts in the preseason, along with having made all but a handful of tries during training camp, where he was initially competing with undrafted free agent John Hoyland for the job before Baltimore released Hoyland in early August. A job that now officially belongs to Loop, the first kicker to be drafted by the Ravens in their 30 years of existence. “It’s special,” Loop said, adding that he planned to celebrate with his family on Saturday night. “Just really excited to be in Baltimore. “I’m excited to be here. Gotta earn it every day still.” 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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