Agent: Ravens kicker is done with team if long-term deal isn't reached
The Ravens kicker might not be returning to Baltimore in 2017
By
John Breech
•
1 min read
If things don't change soon, the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history could be playing for a new team in 2017.
Back in February, the Ravens placed the franchise tag on Justin Tucker with the expectation that the two sides would eventually reach a long-term deal. That hasn't happened though, and now Tucker is fuming.
Agent Rob Roche told ESPN.com on Thursday that if the Ravens don't work out a long-term deal with his client, then Tucker is going to cut ties with the team after the 2016 season.
"Justin's disillusioned with the process right now and the Ravens position with him on his contract," Roche said. "If we don't get a long-term deal done by Friday, Justin will not entertain offers from Ravens after the season."
Playing hardball through the media probably isn't the best way to get a deal done, but apparently, that's what Roche and Tucker have decided to do.
If no deal gets done, Tucker would play the 2016 season under the one-year franchise tag, which would pay him $4.572 million for the season.
That salary will make Tucker the highest-paid kicker in the NFL in 2016, and it's very possible that he wants to keep that title when he signs his long-term deal.
As of right now, New England's Stephen Gostkowski is the highest-paid kicker in the NFL. Gostkowski was hit with the franchise tag in 2015, but didn't have to play under the tag because he eventually worked out a four-year, $17.2 million deal with the Patriots that included $10.1 million in guaranteed money. Gostkowski reached his deal on July 15, 2015, which was last year's deadline.
Tucker and the Ravens have until 4 p.m. ET on Friday to reach a multi-year deal.
CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora pegs the chances of a deal getting done at about 75 percent.
The Ravens could be concerned that Tucker's coming off the worst season of his four-year career. Although Tucker has connected on 87.8 percent of his field-goal attempts in his career, he only hit on 82.5 percent in 2015, which ranked 21st in the NFL.
Despite his struggles last year, Tucker has still been clutch when it counts. The Ravens kicker has 10 career game-winning field goals since signing with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Tucker's 87.8 percent accuracy rate is currently the second highest in NFL history.
