Pigskin Follies

The Bears had kicker Robbie Gould for eleven seasons, during which time he became their all-time leading scorer while making not only the most field goals in team history but the most from 50-plus yards to boot (sorry, I couldn’t help myself).  Naturally, the Bears cut Gould just before the start of last season in order to save money on his contract.  See Richard Sherman, above.

I remember picking Clare up from a Sunday indoor travel ball practice one December.  I had the Bears’ game on the radio as I waited for practice to end.  It was a typical Chicago day, meaning miserable, and more so at Soldier Field, where the Bears were playing.  On to the field comes Gould, who kicks a 50-some yard field goal in conditions that would make a polar bear shiver.  The fans went wild.  Really, Gould’s nickname should’ve been “Windy City Robbie” for his ability to kick in adverse conditions.  You cut a player like that, and you better have a good replacement.  Instead, the Bears came up with the immortal Connor Barth.

Barth was so underwhelming last season the Bears opened camp trying to replace him with a 28-year old undrafted rookie.  When that didn’t work, they picked up Roberto Aguayo from Tampa.  The Bucs used a second-round pick to select Aguayo last year, so that they would cut him after one season should tell you something.

Not that the Bears would be listening.