TUCKER’S $24M DEAL UP, IT’S GOOD
The Ravens have signed All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker to a four-year extension, the team announced Monday.
Tucker’s deal, which extends his contract through 2027, will keep him as the NFL’s highest-paid kicker. The contract is worth $24 million, or $6 million annually, and includes $17.5 million guaranteed and an $11.5 million signing bonus, according to
ESPN.
“It means the world to me to continue my career here in Baltimore,” he said Monday.
“My home, my family’s home — it’s truly special to know I’ll be accounted for for the next six seasons. This is my home, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Tucker’s extension comes after an impressive 2021 season, during which he led the NFL in field-goal accuracy (95.6 percent) and extra-point accuracy (100 percent). Tucker converted two game-winning field goals, including an NFL-record 66yarder in a victory over the Detroit Lions in Week 3, and enters 2022 having made 58 straight fourth-quarter and overtime field-goal attempts.
Tucker, 32, a five-time Pro Bowl and first-team AllPro selection, is the most accurate kicker in league history and among the greatest-ever special teams players. In a recent ESPN survey of experts, reporters and analysts, former New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri just edged Tucker in voting on the best player in NFL history at the position.
Tucker has made 91.1 percent of his career field-goal attempts, 99 percent of his extra-point attempts and is the first kicker in NFL history to register at least 130 points in six straight seasons. Since 2012, Tucker ranks first in the NFL in field goals made (326) and points (1,360). His 1,360 points scored are also the most in the first 10 seasons of a career in NFL history.
Ayahuasca not violation
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ use of the hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca during an offseason retreat isn’t considered a violation of the NFL’s drug policy.
Rodgers discussed on “The Aubrey Marcus Podcast” last week how he went on an ayahuasca retreat to Peru in 2020, before the third of his four MVP seasons. Ayahuasca is defined as a psychoactive beverage native to South America and is often used for religious, ritualistic or medicinal purposes.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said that it wouldn’t have triggered a positive test result on either the substance abuse or performance-enhancing substance policies collectively bargained by the NFL and its players’ association.
Notable
Saints’ projected starting quarterback Jameis Winston has a foot injury that coach Dennis Allen is describing as a “tweak.”
Allen says Winston was rolling out during a passing drill when he began to feel pain in his foot. Winston did not receive any treatment on the field and remained at practice a period before walking on his own to the trainers room to have his foot evaluated.
New York Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton injured his surgically repaired right knee early in practice and the team was awaiting MRI results. Becton, the team’s 2020 first-round draft pick, was run-blocking at right tackle in team drills when he went down on the grass and immediately grabbed at his knee.
With the New York Giants ramping up practices in the middle of a heat advisory days before their first preseason game, it was only a matter of time before tempers flared.
In a span a four plays, running back Saquon Barkley plowed over cornerback
Aaron Robinson and linebacker Tae Crowder got into it with running back Antonio Williams.
The main attraction was starting center Jon Feliciano seemingly kneeing Crowder on an ensuing play and then exchanging punches with linebacker
Cam Brown. The incidents forced coach Brian Daboll to stop practice for five minutes and address the team.
Atlanta Falcons left guard Jaylen Mayfield has returned to practice after missing time with a lower back injury. It’s not known if Mayfield will be able to play Friday night in the first preseason game at Detroit.
Mayfield started all but one game a year ago. He had missed the two previous practices before returning. Mayfield was a third-round draft pick in 2021 after playing tackle in college. He moved to guard with the Falcons but struggled as a rookie. Mayfield has been working with the second team behind newcomer Elijah Wilkinson in training camp.
Detroit Lions rookie offensive tackle Zein Obeid has retired, the fourth player to end his career with the team in two months. Lions coach Dan Campbell said
Kendall Lamm was signed to fill Obeid’s roster spot.
Obeid, who played at Ferris State, was an undrafted rookie as were recent retirees Jermaine Waller , a defensive back from Virginia Tech, and Corey Sutton ,a former Appalachian State receiver.
Defensive tackle John Penisini retired in late July after starting 12 games as a sixth-round pick in 2020 and playing in 16 games as a reserve last year.