5:29pm: Baltimore’s latest proposal to Tucker was not only for less than their past offers, but less than what the Packers are paying fellow kicker Mason Crosby, writes Schefter in a full-length piece. Crosby signed a five-year, $16.1MM deal in March that contained $5MM fully guaranteed.
5:19pm: Ravens franchise player Justin Tucker is so displeased with the tenor of contract negotiations that he’s promising not to re-sign with Baltimore after the 2016 season if no extension is reached by tomorrow’s deadline, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Reviewing the 2016 Baltimore Ravens offseason]
Tucker, one of the league’s best kickers, has already signed his franchise tender, guaranteeing himself $4.572MM for the upcoming season. And while he’s expressed that he won’t remain in Baltimore in 2017 and beyond if no deal is reached by Friday, the Ravens could simply franchise him if 2017 if need be. Of course, Tucker’s stance could be simply be posturing, as he’s reportedly looking to eclipse the four-year, $17.2MM pact signed by Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski last year. By forcing Baltimore to consider life without him in the next few seasons, Tucker may simply be attempting to gain some sort of leverage.
Tucker, 26, is entering his fifth season with the Ravens. For his career, Tucker has connected on 130 of 148 field-goal attempts (87.8%), with 12 of those 18 overall misses coming from 50 yards or longer. He has also nailed an impressive 10 game-winning field goals, including three in 2015.
Earlier today, PFR’s Zach Links rounded up the latest news about Tucker and the rest of the NFL’s franchise players. Each player must reach an extension by 3pm CT tomorrow or else be forced to play out the year under the tag.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Hope he doesn’t go.