Mina Kimes slams Ravens over fawning Justin Tucker statement after sexual misconduct accusations
ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes questioned the “fawning” language used in the Ravens’ statement announcing the release of veteran kicker Justin Tucker, who has been accused of inappropriate behavior — including sexual misconduct — by 16 massage therapists in the Baltimore area.“Was this tone necessary?” Kimes said in a quote tweet about the Ravens’ statement Monday.When an X user responded in criticism of her post, Kimes provided further context of her opinion.“Me: Hey maybe don’t bend over backwards to praise the incredible resilience of a guy accused by 16 different women of sexual misconduct,” Kimes tweeted Monday night.“You: OH YOU’RE CALLING FOR THE DEATH PENALTY?”The Ravens announced Monday they would be parting ways with Tucker, who emerged as one of the greatest kickers in NFL history in his 13 seasons with the team.The statement made no mention of the allegations, which Tucker has denied and his wife has labeled as “false,” and included very positive statements about the 35-year-old.Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta previously called the allegations “serious and concerning” and said the team would make its decision based on the NFL’s investigation.“Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances.Considering our current roster, we have made the tough decision to release Justin Tucker,” DeCosta said in the statement.
“Justin created many significant and unforgettable moments in Ravens history.His reliability, focus, drive, resilience and extraordinary talent made him one of the league’s best kickers for over a decade.
We are grateful for Justin’s many contributions while playing for the Ravens.We sincerely wish him and his family the very best in this next chapter of their lives.”Kimes believes the team could have pulled back on the praise surrounding Tucker’s career considering the allegations, which include exposing his penis and brushing it against two massage th...