The Kansas City Chiefs signed kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad Wednesday, drawing fierce criticism from the sports media.
asserted
Chiefs → sign → media
Head coach Andy Reid faced five straight minutes of questions about Tucker during his news conference.
"He’s done his suspension.
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He → face → suspension
I’ll leave it at that," Reid said.
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Reid → leave → that
The NFL suspended Tucker for 10 games in 2025 for violating its personal conduct policy after 16 female massage therapists accused him of sexual misconduct in the Baltimore area between 2012 and 2016.
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therapists → suspend → 2012
Tucker vehemently denies the allegations, including in a statement to OutKick at the time of the claims.
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Tucker → deny → claims
The usual suspects criticized the move.
"It only takes one ounce of desperation from one franchise to welcome back into the league somebody who was a pariah," Dan Le Batard said.
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Batard → criticize → somebody
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes responded by posting a screenshot of the allegations against Tucker.
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Kimes → respond → Tucker
Several Kansas City media members also expressed frustration with the signing.
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members → express → signing
By NFL standards, Tucker has paid his due.
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Tucker → pay → due
The Chiefs signed a player eligible to play this week.
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Chiefs → sign → player
Packers running back Josh Jacobs returned to the field Sunday after the NFL placed him on the commissioner exempt list before the season.
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NFL → return → season
Jacobs was arrested and charged with allegedly strangling and suffocating his girlfriend.
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Jacobs → arrest → girlfriend
His legal team has worked to keep a video of the alleged incident private.
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team → work → incident
Broncos pass rusher Jonathon Cooper also returned from the commissioner exempt list Sunday.
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Cooper → return → list
He faces a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation, along with several misdemeanor charges stemming from alleged altercations with his then girlfriend.
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He → face → girlfriend
The Seattle Seahawks signed Terrion Arnold in August after the Lions released him.
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Lions → sign → him
Detroit cut the cornerback after he was charged with eight felonies connected to an alleged plot to kidnap, pistol-whip and rob three men he believed had stolen from him.
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he → cut → him
Arnold faces up to life in prison.
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Arnold → face → prison
Then there is Deshaun Watson, who faced allegations similar to Tucker’s, but from more women and involving more serious claims, including allegations that he forced women to perform oral sex.
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he → be → sex
The therapist also filed a civil lawsuit against Watson.
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therapist → file → Watson
Tucker's accusers have not.
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accusers → have → ?
Still, despite the allegations and lawsuits, the Browns signed Watson to the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history in 2022.
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Browns → sign → 2022
In each of those cases, the player is accused of criminal or inappropriate conduct, denies the allegations, is suspended or placed on leave, and eventually returns to the league.
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player → accuse → league
Compare the coverage of Tucker joining the Chiefs’ practice squad to the lack of coverage over the Seahawks signing Arnold, who is facing criminal charges.
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who → compare → charges
The Kansas City Chiefs have also long shown a tolerance for players with baggage.
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Chiefs → show → baggage
Examples include Tyreek Hill, Rashee Rice, Kareem Hunt, Charles Omenihu and Frank Clark.
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Examples → include → Hill
It's barely a surprise the team would show interest in Tucker if it believes he can solve its kicking woes.
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he → show → woes
This Sunday, NFL stadiums across the country will feature players accused and/or convicted of heinous actions and crimes.
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stadiums → feature → actions
Tucker joining a practice squad probably shouldn't be the one to draw the line on NFL teams employing players with questionable character.
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teams → join → character
Alas, the Chiefs signing Justin Tucker warrants a more nuanced conversation than the one happening.
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signing → sign → one
A much broader discussion should be had.
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discussion → have → ?
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