Report: NFL in Baltimore investigating Justin Tucker allegations
NFL investigators are in Baltimore speaking to some of the women who have accused Ravens kicker Justin Tucker of sexual misconduct, ESPN reported Friday.
16 massage therapists from eight high-end Baltimore-area spas have made allegations of Tucker engaging in inappropriate behavior. The Baltimore Banner began investigating Tucker’s alleged behavior after receiving a tip on Jan. 9 and spoke with six massage therapists that recounted “troubling firsthand experiences” with Tucker between 2012-2016. Since then, 10 more women have come out against Tucker.
According to The Banner, three women have spoken with investigators and two more are scheduled to do so.
“We do not provide details or updates of the review process while investigations are ongoing,” a league spokesperson told ESPN.
Per The Banner, five of the six women interviewed said “Tucker asked them to massage his pelvic region or inner thighs while he had an erection” and would repeatedly rotate his body to remove the protective sheets, which allegedly fully or partially exposed his genitals. Three of the therapists revealed that when they returned to the treatment room after Tucker had departed “they described a large wet spot on the massage table” that they believed to be “ejaculate.”
Justin Tucker issues strongly-worded statement addressing reported ‘inappropriate behavior’
Tucker, 35, released a strong rebuke of The Banner report, calling the allegations “unequivocally false.”
“The allegations in The Baltimore Banner article about me are unequivocally false,” Tucker’s statement released over X read. “Throughout my career as a professional athlete, I have always sought to conduct myself with the utmost professionalism. I have never before been accused of misconduct of any kind. And I have never been accused of acting inappropriately in front of a massage therapist or during a massage therapy session or during other bodywork.
“I have never received any complaints from a massage therapist, have never been dismissed from a massage therapy or bodywork session, and have never been told that I was not welcome at any spa or other place of business.”
Tucker, the most accurate kicker in league history, could be subject to discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
“They are obviously serious issues,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said during Super Bowl week in New Orleans. “And he is taking that seriously as are we.”
On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this article.
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