Like Mike Glennon when Trubisky was drafted, kicker Connor Barth couldn’t have been happy with the Chicago Bears when they claimed third-year man Roberto Aguayo off waivers. It was a clear indication the team didn’t yet believe he should be the starter. No doubt it was also an emotional blow after the team had cut his previous competition, rookie Andy Phillips a few days prior.
To be fair it’s not like the veteran had earned any job security. His 2016 season was averaged at best. He connected on just 78.3% of his field goals and also missed an extra point. Even though Aguayo was even worse, he has the advantage of being young and more talented. The Bears want to see two things. The first is whether the kid can take advantage of a second chance and the other how Barth will respond.
Well he responded with probably his best practice of training camp. Reports say the veteran went 11-for-11 in his most recent drills. No doubt a message to the team and personal boost to his confidence. Afterwards when he field the inevitable Aguayo questions though, he couldn’t help but seem a bit sour.
Kicker Connor Barth trolls Tampa Bay when asked of Aguayo
“To be honest, the Tampa curse just will not go away. But it is what it is,” Barth said. “Like I said, I’ve played, what, this is my 10th training camp? If I ever said I was going to do that, it’s been a good run. I’m just trying to enjoy it as long as I can, and whatever happens, happens. I’ve got a great beach house to go back to in North Carolina. We’re renovating a house. It’s good times right now. So I’ve got a lot of other things I’m thinking about too. This is life, man. This is what it’s all about.”
Clearly he’s a man who isn’t afraid of these threats to his job. So what about this Tampa curse? It turns out Barth has an ugly history with that team. They signed him in 2009 and for four seasons he was their starting kicker. The final two saw him play really well and put him in line for a contract extension. Then in 2013 he tore his Achilles and was lost for the season.
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A year later he lost his job to Patrick Murray. After spending 2014 in Denver where he had his most accurate season, Barth returned to Tampa for a second chance. He ended up going 23-of-28. In response the Buccaneers traded up to the second round and drafted Aguayo as his replacement. He left for Chicago where he took over for the departed Robbie Gould.
Now just when Barth though he’d shaken his time in Tampa Bay, in comes Aguayo again hunting for his job. So yeah one can understand why he might think he’s cursed.
Response on the field is what matters most
In this context it’s easy to understand why he might be a little upset. Nobody likes to have their job threatened, much less by the same person twice. Chicago knows a thing or two about sports curses, so they can empathize with Barth. At the same time they have a job to do. That’s put the best 53 players on the field to help them win. Kicker is no exception to that rule. If he doesn’t like it, then just win the competition.
