The Saints Make a Risky Move
Things took a surprising twist this week. Free agent kicker Justin Tucker is lining up his first tryout since the Baltimore Ravens let him go. But the story behind his exit from Baltimore has people talking. And not in a good way. Tucker got suspended for breaking the NFL’s rules on player behavior. That came after claims of bad conduct with women. Now he’s heading to New Orleans for a workout with the Saints. Folks are scratching their heads. Why would the Saints go there? It makes you wonder about what the team values. Both during games and away from the field.
The news broke on Monday, November 24, 2025. Reports from ESPN and USA Today hit first. They said Saints coach Kellen Moore confirmed the tryout. Tucker, 36 years old now, served a 10-game ban to start the season. He became eligible again on November 11. The Ravens cut him back in May. They called it a “football decision.” But everyone knows the real reasons run deeper.
A Controversial Departure from the Ravens
Justin Tucker’s time with the Ravens ended fast. The team said it was about his play on the field. But a story in the Baltimore Banner changed everything. It came out in January 2025. The paper talked to 16 women. They worked at eight different spas around Baltimore. All of them shared tough stories. They said Tucker acted wrong during massage sessions. These things happened between 2012 and 2016. Early in his career there.
Tucker fought back hard. He posted on social media last spring. “These claims are flat-out wrong,” he wrote. His team put out a statement too. They said he always tried to make his family and town proud. No charges ever came. The time to file lawsuits in Maryland passed long ago. Still, the NFL stepped in. They looked into it all summer. On June 26, they handed down the suspension. Ten games. No fine. No extra classes. Tucker didn’t fight it. His agent said he just wanted to move on and kick again.
Before all this, Tucker was a star. He joined the Ravens as an undrafted guy in 2012. Right away, he helped them win Super Bowl XLVII. Over 13 years, he made five Pro Bowls. Eight All-Pro nods. He held the record for longest field goal at 66 yards. That came in 2021 against Detroit. A walk-off winner. But last year, 2024, things slipped. He hit just 73.3 percent of his kicks. Career low. Eleven misses out of 41 tries. Some fans think that’s why Baltimore moved on. Others point to the off-field mess. Maybe both.
The Ravens drafted a new kicker in 2025. Tyler Loop from Arizona. Sixth round. First time they ever picked one that late. Eric DeCosta, the GM, said goodbye in a statement. “Tough call. Justin gave us big moments.” But the door closed.
The New Orleans Saints: A Team Focused on Football Results
The Saints sit at 2 wins and 9 losses right now. Dead last in the NFC South. Their season started rough. They lost the first four games. Then grabbed a win against the Giants in Week 5. Scored 23 straight points to come back. But they’ve dropped seven of the last eight. Points are hard to find. They average just 15 per game. Worst in the league almost.
Kicking has been a real problem. Blake Grupe, their guy in year three, missed eight field goals already. That’s tops in the NFL. Sunday against Atlanta, he shanked two more. From 42 and 48 yards. Both makable. The Saints lost 24-10. Coach Moore said after, “We’ve missed a few lately. Time to look around.” So they called up Tucker. And Cade York too. York kicked for the Browns, Bengals, and Commanders last year. Hit 81.8 percent in five games. Small sample, but steady.
The Saints need help everywhere. Their quarterback spot is a mess. No clear leader. Defense gives up too many yards. But a kicker? That’s low on the list. Still, Grupe’s misses cost games. Like that Falcons one. Those three points could have made it close. Fans in New Orleans love winners. They remember the Drew Brees days. Super Bowl in 2009. But lately, it’s been slim pickings. Playoffs? Not since 2020.
This isn’t the first time the Saints chased a guy with baggage. Back in 2022, they offered big money to Deshaun Watson. Before he went to Cleveland. Watson had his own troubles. Over 20 women spoke out about misconduct. He got an 11-game ban. The Saints pulled back. But it showed their thinking. Win now. Sort the rest later. Some fans shook their heads then. Same feeling now.
The Fine Line Between Performance and Public Image
Bringing in Tucker goes beyond kicks. It’s about how the team looks to the world. The Saints play in a city that cares about right and wrong. New Orleans has history. Hurricanes, floods, comebacks. Fans want heart. Not headaches. By giving Tucker a shot, the team says his foot matters more than the stories. That could bite them.
Look at the Browns and Watson. They traded three first-round picks for him. Gave a five-year, $230 million deal. Fully guaranteed. Bold move. They hoped his arm would fix everything. But it hasn’t. Watson’s 2022 stats? 58.4 percent completion. 14 touchdowns, 9 picks in 7 games. Then the ban hit. Back in 2023, he threw for over 3,100 yards. But the wins didn’t follow. Cleveland went 11-6 that year. Playoffs, but lost quick. This season, 2025, he’s at 62 percent. 16 TDs, 10 picks. Browns are 7-4. Fighting for the top seed. But the noise never stops. Protests at games. Boos in the stands. Owner Jimmy Haslam called it a miss last month. “We swung big. Didn’t connect like we thought.”
Tucker isn’t a quarterback. He’s the kicker. Less spotlight. But the job’s simple. Make or miss. If he nails 90 percent again, fans might forget. Or not. Social media moves fast. One viral post, and it’s everywhere. Remember when the NFL fined teams for bad conduct? Fines went up 20 percent last year. League wants clean images. Saints know that. Their last sponsor pullout? Over a player tweet in 2023. Cost $2 million.
Moore talked Monday. “Tucker’s been great for years. We need to chat more. See where he’s at.” Smart. But fans online? Mixed. Some say, “Who cares? Just kick.” Others: “Not in our house.” Polls on Saints Wire show 60 percent against. That’s real talk.
A Desperate Franchise or a Tone-Deaf Move?
At 2-9, this season’s toast. Playoffs? Math says no. Even if they win out, 6-11 tops. Behind Atlanta at 6-5. Tampa 5-6. Carolina 3-8. Rebuild time. They need a QB for tomorrow. Draft a guy in 2026? Or trade up? Kicker feels small. But Tucker’s record? 85.4 percent career. 366 of 429 field goals. Only 11 misses inside 40 yards lifetime. That’s gold.
Desperation shows. After the Falcons loss, Moore benched no one. But the tryout? That’s action. York might get it. Or practice squad guy Charlie Smyth. He’s been there two years. Irish kid with a strong leg. Hit 85 percent in college. Why Tucker then? History. Or just a name to test Grupe. Whatever, it feels off. Like ignoring the elephant. Fans pay tickets. They want heroes. Not headaches.
One old-timer in the Superdome crowd said it best. “We forgave a lot post-Katrina. But this? Feels wrong.” Echoes the fan disconnect. Saints brass chases rings. Supporters chase pride. Gap’s widening.
A Dangerous Precedent for the Saints
As the tryout happens Tuesday, Saints face a choice. Short fix or long game? Roster boost now. Or brand hurt later. NFL watches close. Off-field stuff? Under the microscope since 2020. Haslam’s miss with Watson? Warning sign. Saints could follow.
If Tucker signs, watch the ripple. Sponsors nervous. Media hounds. Games get tense. A missed kick? Blame game starts. If he shines, like that 66-yarder? Maybe cheers drown it out. But doubt it. Allegations stick. 16 voices. Not easy to shake.
Team’s in rebuild. New coach Moore. First year. Pressure’s on. He came from Dallas. Won 77 percent there. But this? Tests him off field too. Will they talk to Tucker deep? About growth. Change. Or just his form? Time tells.
In the end, it’s about balance. Talent versus truth. Saints strategy draws eyes. Some good. Most not. New Orleans deserves better. Or does it? Football’s tough. Wins heal wounds. But some scars stay. This one might.
