The Kansas City Chiefs just signed former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad, a move announced on Wednesday, Oct. 28, that’s already sparking outrage across the league, and rightfully so. This isn’t just a depth signing, folks; Tucker was suspended for 10 games last season after a staggering 16 women came forward with sexual misconduct allegations.
Reid’s “Second Chance” Ploy Amidst Controversy
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, 68, is predictably standing by the decision, trotting out his usual “second chance” defense. He said Tucker “done his suspension, you know. Took care of that business there.” He also tried to smooth things over, claiming, “Yeah, listen, we try to do our homework the best way we possibly can. Talk to a lot of people and make sure things are okay.” Reid even referenced his track record of giving players with off-field issues a pass, name-dropping wide receiver Rashee Rice and punter Matt Araiza. “He served a suspension. It’s been time. There’s been time involved with it,” Reid insisted. It’s the same old song and dance from Reid, trying to spin a controversial signing as some kind of rehabilitation project.
Butker’s Slump, Seahawks Win, and Fan Fallout
Now, why Tucker? The move comes just days after Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who’s been mired in a season-plus-long slump, missed two crucial field goals in a brutal 20-3 loss to *our very own* Seattle Seahawks. Coincidence? We think not. Tucker, 36, hasn’t seen NFL action since 2024, when he kicked a career-low 73.3%. So, the Chiefs are scraping the bottom of the barrel to maybe replace a slumping kicker, bringing in someone with this kind of baggage.
The fan reaction from the Chiefs faithful has been swift and unforgiving. Disappointment is an understatement, with some fans even offering to sell off their merch. One X user didn’t hold back, writing, “NFL wants female fans. NFL continues to platform sex offenders. Maybe more international games will help 🤷♀️” Another echoed the sentiment, asking, “Can we stop signing pieces of crap to our squad.” Even Patrick Mahomes, 31, who famously had his own run-in with Tucker during the 2024 AFC Championship, seemed unfazed, trying to keep his focus on this week’s game. “I try not to get too high or too low on anything,” Mahomes said, adding that “Veach and them do a great job of bringing great players in, but for me it’s about the Denver Broncos and moving on and continuing to get better. We have a lot of stuff that we have to clean up.”
Mahomes knows they’ve got problems beyond the kicking game, especially after getting dismantled by our Hawks. The Chiefs now turn their attention to the Denver Broncos, trying to “clean up” a lot of stuff, but it’s clear this Tucker signing has just added a massive layer of controversy and frustration to their already rocky season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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