With Justin Tucker, the Baltimore Ravens are the newest NFL staff to face scandal over accusations of impropriety throughout the course of therapeutic therapeutic massage periods. This isn’t their first main scandal by any means, with Ray Lewis and Ray Rice coming to thoughts. After the Rice scandal, they declare, they put in a “zero tolerance” coverage with gamers and their conduct.
A number of years in the past, the Cleveland Browns gave them the chance to get on their excessive horse. Amid the speak about QB Deshaun Watson, they broadcast the existence of this recognized publicly. Little did they know that Justin Tucker would make the Ravens’ zero-tolerance coverage very related.
Throughout the NFL Scouting Mix, GM Eric DeCosta fielded quite a few questions on the matter. Requested instantly if Justin Tucker may very well be terminated by the Ravens as a result of their zero tolerance coverage, he stated that “Lots goes into that”.
Requested for additional elaboration, it turned clear that—effectively, issues weren’t so clear. Following DeCosta’s responses about Tucker, the Ravens issued an announcement clarifying that there isn’t a precise “written, definitive zero-tolerance coverage”. In different phrases, there isn’t truly a zero-tolerance coverage, in the event that they choose issues on a case-by-case foundation.
But DeCosta, requested if he regrets saying the Ravens had a coverage of zero tolerance, stated, “Completely not”. Now, that doesn’t imply that if such a proper coverage existed Justin Tucker can be on the road proper now. In the meanwhile, there are merely allegations—from 16 therapeutic massage therapists—in opposition to him. Mere allegations are usually not sufficient to warrant anyone dropping their job.
“We’re lucky that the league is doing an investigation. We’ll wait as patiently as we are able to for as a lot data as we are able to, and we’ll make our choices primarily based on that”, DeCosta stated. However he later admitted that he couldn’t define what the Ravens’ zero-tolerance coverage is.
By way of the timeline, the Baltimore Banner obtained suggestions in regards to the matter within the first half of January, and the story got here out weeks later. There doesn’t seem like any proof that the Ravens knew of something substantial about Justin Tucker previous to that. However their coverage of zero tolerance will likely be put to the check, relying on how this factor goes.
The Ravens didn’t have an issue displaying zero to Ray Rice, who gave the impression to be on the finish of his profession; Justin Tucker final season seemed to be slipping considerably as effectively. Until he was blackmailed or warned in regards to the allegations popping out throughout the season, his poor efficiency can’t be blamed on that.
In different phrases, it’d go well with the Ravens simply fantastic as soon as once more to trip their excessive horse and taut their zero-tolerance coverage by axing Justin Tucker if issues end up the fallacious manner. They might have been ready to maneuver on from him as a participant anyway. For now, although, DeCosta says it’s a matter of ready to see how issues play out.
“That’s one thing we’ve got to search out out”, he stated when requested how the Ravens’ zero-tolerance coverage applies to Tucker. “That’s what the evaluation is for – to realize an understanding of what we’re even speaking about. … Then, you are taking the scenario for what it’s, however the precept is identical. The way you outline that precept, that time period slightly bit and the way … Perhaps we’ll come out and make a definition of that in some unspecified time in the future in time. That’s one thing that might be fascinating to me. I believe everyone understands the concept there, and let’s see the place the evaluation takes us”.
