Fans have held out hope that there is still a chance former Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould might return home. This was fueled by his ongoing holdout from the San Francisco 49ers who had used their franchise tag on him. GM John Lynch made it clear the team had no plans to grant his initial request for a trade. So the options were clear. Either they reach a long-term agreement, Gould holds out the year, or the 49ers rescind the tag.
It appeared the kicker was prepared to hold out as long as necessary and for a time it looked like negotiations were at a standstill. However, with the deadline to sign an extension before the tag deal becomes fixed in place, there was finally movement. According to Adam Schefter, the two sides hammered out a deal just in time to beat the clock.
Gould finally gets the multi-year contract he wanted, enabling him to move his family out west without fear of being out of work after just one season. For Bears fans, it’s the sad ending to what they’d hoped would’ve been a classic prodigal son returning.
There are plenty of people relieved by this news though. Most feel Gould is a pipedream and it’s time for the Bears to focus on the future. They have two young and promising kickers in camp with high upside in Elliott Fry and Eddy Pineiro. Both of whom have strong legs and good accuracy. It would be fair to them to let the competition they’ve held since minicamps to play out. If either one works out, the Bears would be set at the position for years to come.
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With Gould, they would likely be searching again for a new kicker a couple of seasons from now given he’s 36-years old.