Justin Tucker is being punished by the NFL due to the allegations of sexual misconduct he has faced.
The league announced on Thursday that Tucker has been suspended the first 10 weeks of the season without pay for violations of the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. Tucker’s suspension will take effect on Aug. 26, which is the day teams need to cut down their rosters. He will be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 11.
Tucker can serve his suspension even if he is a free agent. If he were to sign with a team, he would still be allowed to attend training camp and participate in preseason games.
Tucker’s suspension stems from allegations of sexual misconduct he has faced from women from whom he received massages. Tucker has denied the allegations.
“We are disappointed with the NFL’s decision. Justin has always strived to carry himself in a way that would make his family and community proud. He stands by his previous statements,” Tucker’s representative said in a statement. “In order to put this difficult episode behind him and get back on the field as soon as possible, we have advised Justin to accept this resolution and close this matter. The people who know Justin best know his character and understand that while he remains fully committed to excellence as a football player, he is deeply dedicated to his most important lifetime roles as a father, husband, and friend.”
Now that they know the length of his suspension, there is little incentive for a team to sign Tucker immediately. Though the 35-year-old has the best field goal percentage in NFL history at 89.1, he slipped to a career-worst 73.3 mark last season. His poor performance last season combined with the allegations he has faced makes it less likely for him to be signed in the near future.
