Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has spoken with kicker Justin Turner about the sexual harassment allegations facing the player and says the team is looking at potential replacements should the ongoing NFL investigation result in suspension.
Addressing the subject publicly for the first time with reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Harbaugh said he ‘loves’ Tucker, but was admittedly disappointed about the situation.
‘It’s not what you want to wake up and read,’ he said. ‘You don’t want to read about it. It’s not something you want to see. I don’t care what it is, in terms of things that are hurtful and harmful to people.
‘There’s too many headlines like that, too many stories that you hear that just make you just sad and disappointed. You don’t ever want to see a circumstance and situation… where anybody is made to feel less than great when they come and are involved in a work experience somewhere.
‘That’s just really a tough deal,’ he continued. ‘The NFL is looking into it. They’re going to review it. They’re going to try to gather all the facts… I’m sure we’ll have an understanding of it at that time. And then once there’s an understanding of it, then you have a chance to make some decisions and determinations and things like that. And that’s where we’re at right now.
‘We’ve all got questions,’ Harbaugh concluded. ‘But nobody knows exactly what happened. So let’s see where the review takes us.’
Justin Tucker is seen alongside his wife Amanda Bass before a 2019 game in Baltimore
Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens speaks to the media in Indianapolis
Sixteen massage therapists from across eight spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area have made allegations against the married NFL star.
Last week, it was reported that NFL investigators visited Baltimore to interview massage therapists who have accused the Ravens kicker of sexually inappropriate conduct. Among the allegations leveled against Tucker are that he repeatedly — and deliberately — exposed his erect penis.
Tucker denies any wrongdoing and on Wednesday he branded the accusations ‘shocking and heart-breaking.’
Despite the claims, Tucker’s wife Amanda Bass has now confirmed she is standing by him, claiming her husband has been ‘falsely accused.’
As she told Outkick: ‘The false allegations against Justin have caused so much hurt to our family. I believe my husband, and I love and support him fully.’
The alleged incidents are all said to have occurred between 2012 – Tucker’s rookie season in Baltimore – and 2016.
Fresh allegations, which emerged earlier this month, saw Tucker accused of ‘leaving what (was) believed to be ejaculate on the table’ and making ‘intense eye contact throughout a massage while exposed.’
Several therapists said they ended Tucker’s sessions early or refused to work on him again. Managers from two spas said they banned him from returning.
Tucker – a practicing Catholic who has spoken regularly about his faith – reiterated his denials on Wednesday.
He told Outkick: ‘I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider. These claims are simply not true.’
He added: ‘I can assure whoever is reading this that I have never intended to disrespect anyone, cross any boundary, or make anyone feel uncomfortable in any way whatsoever.
‘It devastates me to know that anyone I have worked with would not have felt respected and valued as a professional, but more importantly as a person, and to anyone who has felt otherwise, I am sorry.’
Tucker’s wife Amanda Bass confirmed she is standing by him, saying he’s ‘falsely accused’
As Harbaugh noted Wednesday, the team is evaluating kickers.
‘We’re looking at kickers. I mean, we’re looking at a lot of positions,’ Harbaugh said. ‘But I’d say the kicker position would have been a priority no matter what because, you know, Justin’s our kicker. We love him. I always expected him to keep going forever. But nobody goes forever.’
Tucker’s wife Amanda Bass (right) insists he’s innocent and being ‘falsely’ accused
Tucker, a super Bowl winner, is an eight-time All-Pro and could find himself enshrined in Canton some day.
Earlier this week, Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta spoke out on the future of the kicker in light of the ‘serious and concerning’ allegations.
Speaking at the NFL Combine, DeCosta refused to rule out terminating the player’s contract.
‘The allegations are serious, concerning. The amount of allegations are serious and concerning,’ he said.
‘I think we’re fortunate that the league is doing an investigation. We’ll wait as patiently as we can for as much information as we can, and we’ll make our decisions based on that.’
DeCosta later added that he had met with Tucker, but declined to share the specifics of the conversation.
