<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Justin Tucker gears up for training camp by kicking to kids at city park

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterJul 18, 2017, 11:01 AM
            Close
              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
            Follow on X

          BALTIMORE -- How does the most accurate kicker in NFL history get ready for training camp? Kicking balls to kids at a city park.

          Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens tweeted Monday that he was going to kick at Patterson Park, and he was thrilled to see about 100 fans and their children show up for the impromptu personal practice.

          "You all make me feel like Odell Beckham or something," Tucker said. "I got a whole crew here."

          This is the first time in a couple of years that Tucker has held one of his fan-aided workouts. He spent about 90 minutes kicking what seemed like 100 balls from 30 to 71 yards out.

          Nearly every one of Tucker's kicks sailed through the uprights, where the younger fans raced after the balls and threw them back to the NFL's reigning All-Pro kicker.

          "Getting that chance to hang out with some of our fans before the season really gets started is special to me," Tucker said.

          Tucker, whose career success rate is 89.8 percent, began the practice by warming up with fans. He ran sideline to sideline, where he was followed by a kids camp being held at the park.

          He stuck to his usual workout routine, even simulating certain game situations. Heading over to the sideline, Tucker ran back on the field, saying, "There's two seconds remaining and the bad guys are leading by a point."

          Tucker then drilled the kick straight down the middle, and the fans cheered.

          "I was going to be kicking anyway, so I might as well make it a little bit more fun, get a few more eyes on me," Tucker said. "It ups the ante a little bit. It makes it more game-like. I get to simulate what game day feels like when a bunch of people are watching."

          Hitting footballs at a local park seems to fit Tucker's humble beginnings. He was a tryout player for the Ravens in 2012 before being an All-Pro in two of the last four seasons.

          "It's not about me individually being the best or wanting to be the best," Tucker said. "It's my teammates and I, it's our coaches and myself wanting to do great things together. Right now, I'm out here on my own -- other than the neighborhood. I'm just doing my part. So when Sundays start rolling around, we'll be ready."