Ravens K Tucker agrees to 4-year deal; loses franchise tag

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker agreed to a four-year contract Friday after being designated the team's franchise player.

The Ravens and Tucker beat the 4 p.m. deadline in reaching accord on a long-term deal. If no agreement was reached, Tucker would have been forced to play in 2016 with the franchise tag or sit out the season.

Baltimore announced the deal late Friday afternoon.

''Justin has become a cornerstone for our team, and we are happy to get this contract completed,'' general manager Ozzie Newsome said.

The deal means that Tucker, holder Sam Koch and long snapper Morgan Cox are signed through 2019.

Since joining the Ravens as a free agent in 2012, Tucker has made 130 of his 148 field goal tries - an 87.8 percent success rate that is second-best in NFL history.

He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013 after making 38 of 41 field goal attempts, including a 61-yarder that beat the Detroit Lions

Tucker has connected on 10 game-winning field goals for the Ravens, including three last season when Baltimore went 5-11.

He was the sixth franchise player in team history.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL