Brad Biggs reports today that Robbie Gould may not be happy playing the lame duck season of his four-year contract but he's AT Halas Hall and participating in the off-season program. Good chance to reward a good guy here, Jerry, and pay the best kicker this team has had since Kevin Butler. As good as this defense can be in 2008, the special teams is what keeps us in every ballgame. That's three guys: Hester, Maynard and Gould.
For any football fan, the news that Hard Knocks is returning to HBO with the Dallas Cowboys is good stuff. You need characters to make that show work and America's Team does not lack for characters.
Do you still like this song? I do.
#2 jeff said . . .gotta love the bengals...i'm wondering if that reference has more to it than I know, but either way, interesting way to end a post. Is anyone happy with the money that they're making? Yeah, it'd be nice to resign gould, but do you think we have bigger priorities to take care of first...TH, DH, 54?
May 8, 2008
#3 Da Coach said . . .the gould contract should take ten minutes.
May 8, 2008
#4 Pissed Off said . . .4 or 5 yrs worth 9mil with a 2mil signing bonus should do the trick. Just get it done its a proven commidity and needs to be addressed.
May 8, 2008
#5 Prefontaine said . . .Um I never liked that song, mainly cuz it sucks.
I say get Gould done, but we have other issues too. Hester still isnt signed long term is he? How about this extension Urlacher is looking for. We have other priorities but Jeff you're right, the Gould contract should be easy and therefore....get the fucking thing done Jer.
May 8, 2008
#6 Rancid said . . .Lets see...roofing houses for 12.00/hour or kicking FG for the greatest football franny in the history of the league.
They could pay me in used game gear and I would sign on the line....but I suck at kicking. SO sign Robby up and give him $1 mil./year with a 2 mil bonus and 5 more years.
Get off your tail Jerry and get some work done
May 8, 2008
#7 Anytime said . . .Had an X that loved the Bangles. Now I hate 'em. When I hear that stupid manic monday song I want to kill myself.
He's a kicker. He's good. Pay him what you should pay a good kicker. Why is this hard again?
May 8, 2008
#8 Tenacious D said . . .Jeff,
For me to STILL like that song I would have had to like it at one point in the past. It sucks.Its a kicker contract. What is the issue? Just give the guy some Lance Briggs filet mignon table scraps and he will be happy.
May 8, 2008
#9 animal said . . .I don't know what we're waiting for. Do you guys remember what a time we had finding a decent kicker before Robbie got here? (Carlos Huerta, anyone?) We were horrible. Chicago's not an easy place to kick, and he's been rock solid.
At camp, he's always one of the first guys out of the locker room signing autographs for the kids, and one of the last to go in. Seems like a good guy.
May 8, 2008
#10 Shay-D said . . .What other quality blogs are out there on Chicago sports? If any of you frequent one as good as this one, please share.
When are the Bears going to get a "hard knocks" gig? Cowboys should be good. Chiefs- whose idea was that? Terrible decision.
May 8, 2008
#11 said . . .OMG that song blows. Never heard it before today, and hopefully never again.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d808351d3&campaign=ec0005
Suddenly the Bears offense sprung to life with a spread formation...
May 8, 2008
#12 Megan said . . .O.K. you can ignore that last link, unless you want to hear some old guys debate who the tip-5 teams are in the NFL... I was trying to get the Bears-Eagles game for you guys. It's in that page, under the "game of the week" tab. You know,"the drive" which started the long Bears winning streak that propelled the team into the playoffs... Oh wait.
May 8, 2008
#13 Shady said . . .Gould is a must, along with Urlacher. There is no way we shouldn't sign him again (sorry for the double negative)
Ain't gonna lose him No HOW!I'm sure I've pissed a few grammer freaks out... always the instigator
May 9, 2008
#14 zisk said . . .It'll be very interesting to see how the veteran contract situations play out. Jerry Angelo knows how to run an extremely profitable business perhaps better than he knows how to run a championship football team. His team of negotiators always seem to be able to sign their players early and often...with perhaps the exception of Cedric Benson, but I don't blame them for that one.
As far as the rookies go, apparently the Bears have one of the best (top 5) rookie pools dollar-wise in the NFL. They have about $5.8 MIL to spend on their rookies and given their history or rapid signings, the Bears and Cliff Stein should have no problems closing deals and getting these guys into camp on time.
Obviously there are a number of players looking for new contracts in the near future. I'm sure the Bears have a plan to take care of business, and I'm pretty confident the franchise tag will be part of that plan. It's true they'd rather not use it if they can avoid it, example being BB, but in this case I can understand paying a guy like Hester or Gould top-5 money for a return man or kicker.In my mind the Urlacher deal can wait, primarily because the Bears have leverage over Brian. Lance Briggs needs to quit complaining and play like he's paid to, don't tell me you're unhappy Lance you just got your new contract.
But the 3 guys who I believe need to be signed to long term contracts ASAP are: Robbie Gould, Devin Hester and most importantly Tommie Harris.Robbie Gould has been a great surprise and finding a replacement would be difficult. Devin Hester is ridiculous and needs to be paid accordingly. That being said, he is still only a return man (as of now) so the BT won't go nuts unless he proves himself a #1 or #2 WR as well. Tommie Harris probably has the most leverage out of all the other players mentioned, and I'm sure that sleaze-bag Rosenblouse knows it. As difficult as it may be, the Bears will end up either 'tagging' Tommie as one of the highest paid DTs in the game or making him one of the highest, if not THE highest lineman in the game period. Outside of a few injury concerns, the man has been a terrific role-model for the NFL. While some guys make the paper because they end up in the blotter, Tommie makes the paper for the right reasons.
Not counting the rookies, I would say the Bears are going to sign 2 of their veteran players while 'tagging' another. If I had to guess, I would say they find a way to extend Harris and Gould while Hester gets The Tag. Whoever DOES end up getting it won't like it, but it'll make the most sense for the business that is the Chicago Bears.
May 9, 2008
#15 shonbear said . . .Can you franchise someone as a return specialist? The tag for wide receiver has to be very pricey.
May 9, 2008
#16 JWilson said . . .You know in contemplating the last few weeks so many folks (high profile important guys) with contract issues. This seems like something they should have made an issue about after their great run to the Superbowl. They follow up their Superbowl season with an extremely lack-luster performance on all fronts (except special teams). Yes when it didn't matter anymore all of a sudden we started looking better on defense and more consistent on offense, but really overall the season sucked, we were chasing our tales right out of the gate with that San Diego loss which was in our grasp and that loss seemed to really predict the rest of the years woes.
After that lameness our guys are complaining about contracts that they signed when we looked a lot better as a team, now we look worse and they want something more. I'm with Jerry's explanation on this one. The market drives these negotiations, you can't change the rules everytime the market changes to renegotiate the new market standard.
If we have to entertain it due to better than expected performances, then I'm thinking that Robbie and Devin deserve the most consideration because though I worship #54, really he seemed to wait till later in the season, like right after the probowl selections to finish with some probowl numbers. I understand he had the back problems, neck surgery and now maybe he is thinking of his future health and financial stability, but for the "face of the franchise" this has been disappointing.
Hoiw much do we have in cap space, how much will be spent on these new rookies and undrafted free agents, how much needs to go to these disgrunted folks, how many more cuts are we intending to make and how much more do we need to have ready to pay some good playeres that might be headed for contract negotiations next year.
You can guarantee that if these guys settle and go to training camp with unresolved contract issues, then we have the kind of season were all hoping for that the following year will be a nightmare. They will all want to be paid or head somewhere else.
I say this is the price you pay for being good, but after last year, we didn't look good. They look good this year and cha-ching, stay or go, it's going to cost us. Don't forget all the prime time airtime were getting this year, this means these guys need to perform on the big stage selling themselves and their abilities to the Bears and/or other potential suitors.
I'm sure overated Bernard Berrian didn't cry too much for leaving his 7-9 Bears team-mates to an 8-8 Minnesota Vikings rival that paid him 40 something mil to wipe his tears away.
Did I mention that I hope Mike Brown, Nate Vasher, Peanut and Urlacher all smash him n the mouth at the same time while any one of them intercepts the ball from him and runs back for a touchdown, or tackels him with such force that he coughs the ball up and we run it back for a touchdown. I really want him to think he's going into a game against the Bears to perform and instead be crushed, saying to himself at the end of each game "well at least I made 43 million"
OK and I'm spent.
May 9, 2008
#17 JB said . . .I'm not sure why this is such a big deal. Jerry your job is easy here. Pay these guys! Devin and Robbie= points on the board. It's not rocket science.
Someone said something about spread offense. Why don't teams run more spread offense? These kids are used to running it in college. Ron Turner if you want to score a few times? Run some spread.
May 9, 2008
#18 mikebdot said . . .I'm really not sure where this conversation went to...talks of tags and the like. FYI, Hester still has 2 years left on his rookie deal. I agree he needs to get extended, and soon, but he's not as big of a deal at TH, who has one year left. I've been talking about that since last year, it is the #1 priority this offseason. I'll agree with Jeff on this much, it won't take long to do a Gould deal, but let's not get our panties in a bunch over it. He's been good if not very good at times, but he's not on the same level as these other guys.
If you guys remember how things usually work, teams will start to sign the later draft picks first and work their way up. 1st rounders tend to wait a little bit to see what the guy drafted before them got. By this logic, Chris Long could be signed next and follow that down the line. That isn't to say JA can't jump the gun and get CW done early, but I don't expect it done super fast. I expect Steltz to be the first "big name" we drafted to sign first and move up from there.
May 9, 2008
#19 Phil from SATX said . . .I'm pretty sure our cap situation isn't all that great at this point. I thought I remembered seeing we were at around $15M. So, if just over $5M goes to signing the rookies, that only leaves $10M to use towards new contracts for either TH, BU, DH, and RG. We obviously have to pick and choose where to reward people. BU has already been rewarded. I would reward DH and RG, myself, and hope to sign TH to a long term deal, but it's going to require a large signing bonus and I just don't think we can afford that, unless that is all we did.
There is no sense fucking up the cap situation next year in an effort to sign people early or sign people who have already signed a 9 year deal.
Of course, if that $15M number is incorrect (which is possible, I was just thinking that I read that recently after Briggs and the other FA signings that's where we were) then that leaves more (or less) wiggle room. I just don't think we can reward all of the players we'd like to this season. We might have to wait on Urlacher and DH.
May 9, 2008
#20 mikebdot said . . .JB, you are correct - these are all future issues and not that relevant to the short term success of the Bears. What IS relevant is getting ALL draft picks into camp on time - because the rookies (at least 2-4 of them) is what is going to make the difference between success and failure next year - or at least from a financial perspective right now, that is by far where the emphasis must go.
Everyone else is under contract. Hopefully there won't be any newly crowned prima donna veterans who we have to start hating like Lance Briggs last year (and amazingly it may BE Lance Briggs, which would be unfathomable). If BU or Tommie Harris started talking about holding out of camp because they're not happy with their contract, I WILL BE PISSED - and not at Jerry either.
Draft picks first, Tommie second, Gould third, DH fourth, BU fifth. Of those, Tommie is the only one I will be very worried about if they don't get done. Gould is a need-to-sign (not a must-sign) and I agree with those who say it should be easy. How many variables can go into a kicker's negotiations?
May 9, 2008
#21 mikebdot said . . .I know my opinion on Gould is probably not going to be popular, but I don't think he is worth "elite" kicker money. There were a few times last year where we opted to punt the ball because Gould wasn't trusted to make kicks near 50 yards. I understand field position battles are sometimes useful and all, but if you can't count on your kicker in that situation, is he really worth $2M per year (or whatever he is asking)?
Another issue with him is he probably wants a bonus and throwing a bonus and his base salary to a kicker is just not sound with such a slim amount of money to spend on other definite NEEDS like Hester and Harris. We should pay Hester hansomely as he has single-handedly kept us in or outright won games for us whereas Gould hasn't really been "Mr. Clutch" (like, say, a Vinatieri was with the Patriots). He's had a few big kicks, but he doesn't consistenly hit long ones. The reason his percentage is so high is because we have problems putting the ball into the fucking endzone, especially early in the game.
May 9, 2008
#22 Rancid said . . .And, just to add to that, Gould isn't really that good at kickoffs either. And, from 40-49 yards he is actually really good hitting 12/14. But he was 0/2 50+. I'm also thinking quite of a few of those 40-49 yarders were on the shorter end, like 41 or 42. But that's probably just my bias.
I would much rather put the priority as follows:
Draft picks, Hester, Harris, Urlacher, Gould.
May 9, 2008
#23 shonbear said . . .I don't think people think Gould is an "elite" kicker. I don't. To tell you the truth my main issue with him is that his kickoffs were landing at the 15-20 last year and that sucks.
However I do think he is a good kicker and he is a guy who has had success in our system (whatever the hell that is), and I want him to continue as our kicker. In the end it's what I said above, just pay him good kicker money. Not elite kicker money, but better than average.
I'll post that USA Today NFL salaries link so we can debate what we thing he's worth.
http://content.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/playersbyposition.aspx?pos=123
May 9, 2008
#24 Tenacious D said . . .Best line: Mikebdot
"The reason his percentage is so high is because we have problems putting the ball into the fucking endzone, especially early in the game."
May 9, 2008
#25 JB said . . .Rancid,
Bironas in Tennessee just signed yesterday for $1.5 mill for 1 year. I'd say Robbie is worth close to that amount.
May 9, 2008
#26 jeff said . . .I know this might sound a bit odd, but I think signing the rookies and extending the veterans is two completely different things. I have full confidence that JA will sign all the rookies on time. CW and company all seem like the types of guys that want to get in and compete for a starting spot. I think those will all get done in a timely manner. The veteran extensions are quite another. It's not exactly difficult to sign rookies outside the first round, and we have a tackle at #14...he'll be signed on time...i'd be willing to bet bar tab on it.
As for the extensions, I really think that it's all about Tommie now. RG can sign at the end of next year and we can probably play the wait and see with DH. If he turns out to be a viable #1, watch out, that contract is going to be gigantic. Honestly, about 54, I said before try to get something done after TH and DH...but i don't see it happening this year. He'll have to play under his good but not great money and suck it up.
May 9, 2008
#27 Nutjob said . . .i think gould's an elite kicker.
May 9, 2008
#28 jeff said . . .Another witness came forward today in defense of Benson. This time it is disintrested party. As much as I hate Benson as a football player it seems like this is another case of police brutality. I feel for the guy. His performance and lackluster on the field should not make him guilty of this crime.
Anyway enough about that. Gould his an elite kicker since he nailed that kick against the hawks. Thats what it is all about hitting the big kick. Pay him enough money to keep him here and be done no big deal!!
May 9, 2008
#29 mikebdot said . . .nutjob, you nailed it there. that kick.
May 9, 2008
#30 mikebdot said . . .Which kick against the Hawks? The 41 yarder to tie the game (with 4:54 to go)? Or the 49 yarder to win in OT? Neither kick, if missed, would have necessarily cost us the game.
And why pay a guy for that one game? And just for field goals. He's not a good place kicker.
I'd say he's slightly above average as a total package. Plus, kickers can play for 15+ years. We can reward him with a new contract next season. This is just his 4th season, with only one real pressure packed game.
And crap, if he could kick balls into the endzone, maybe that game against Minnesota turns out different (AP caught the ball at the 9 yard line).
May 9, 2008
#31 Peyton said . . .Gould has never made a FG over 49 yards!
Elite!
WOOOO!
May 9, 2008
#32 Rancid said . . .Are we still talking about our idiot kicker who got liquored up and ran his mouth?
May 9, 2008
#33 jeff said . . .Totally not my goal here to trash Gould. I like the guy, he's a solid dependable kicker. For all I know he is asking for a fair contract and the Bears are trying to lowball him. Totally believeable. He deserves a good contract, but I can't call him an elite kicker. Elite is defined as "the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons" (dictionary.com)
I think he's a good kicker and I hope we re-sign him but here's my rationale for why I can't call him elite:
1. Average at best on kickoffs
2. 0 50+ career field goals
I think to be considered an elite kicker you need to have the long ball in your arsenal. I really do like the guy, and really want to keep him. I'm just a little touchy about the "elite" talk. Everyone can't be elite. It's a strong word.
If Gould wants an elite contract, then take him out to Soldier, set up game conditions and have him take three 52 yard field goals. If he makes two of them, I'll agree to the contract.
May 9, 2008
#34 mikebdot said . . .i'm not a believer in the over 50 yard field goal crap. is martin gramatica elite? sebastian janikowski? gould was instrumental in sending this club to a super bowl.
May 9, 2008
#35 jdawg said . . .jeff: That does not necessarily make him an elite kicker. All it does is provide an emotional reason to pay him like one. I don't like weighing emotional crap when dealing with cold hard reason.
May 9, 2008
#36 mikebdot said . . .its not emotional crap.
Gould is unemotional until the ball goes through the uprights.
If I'm not mistaken, none of Vineterri's SB FG's were over 50 yards, but he hit them when the kettle was whistling.
May 9, 2008
#37 mikebdot said . . .jdawg: Yeah, and he was clutch for many years (and many games) before being signed for big money by the Colts. 5 years/$13.5M - with $3.5M signing bonus. We cannot afford to pay him that, and that is what elite players make, especially if a certain someone doesn't work out at WR and we decide to pay him for a specific service that benefits the team even more.
Is he worth what Vinatieri made? over $3M per season (including bonus)?
May 9, 2008
#38 jdawg said . . .Basically, what I'm saying is, it's not as easy as it looks. You have to assign a value to him, see what he and his agent think, and go from there. Just like everyone else. It's not like just because it's less money (compared to other positions) you can throw it around like bread. I agree, he's a solid kicker, he should be paid like one. If they offered him a solid kicker contract and he wants to be paid like an elite kicker without performing like an "elite" kicker for multiple years (you've all argued he performed like an elite kicker due to one game!) and will thus not sign a "solid kicker" contract, well, screw him. We couldn't win games kicking field goals last year and we won't be able to win games kicking field goals this year.
May 9, 2008
#39 mikebdot said . . .I'm not saying he's Vineterri, I'm just saying he's made some clutch kicks. He doesn't deserve that kind of money.
Most kicks are under 50 yards. The only long kick I remember him making was a 54 yarder in Minny that was nullified by a penalty.
He does have my all-time favorite kick. It was during the 2006 Wind Bowl against the 49ers. He kicked the ball for a FG, it went about 30 yards and took the hardest right I've ever seen a football take in mid-air. It was like it was yanked off-stage by an invisible crook.
May 9, 2008
#40 Phil from SATX said . . .jdawg: I actually remember both those.
So yes, he's the best kicker since But-head. I agree, easily. No contest.
Another thing I thought about though, if it wasn't for Hester, how many less field goal attempts would we have had last season? At least 6 or 7. Probably more. Yikes!
May 9, 2008
#41 mikebdot said . . .I never understood why you couldn't pay some utility player to learn how to kick the ball a mile, exclusively for kickoffs. I mean, how much skill can there be in kickoffs? Punting, sure, field goals, absolutely, but just kicking off a tee? Speaking of that, you keep like 8 defensive backs or something, why haven't they figured out that a kicker who can do nothing but ensure a touchback is worth a roster spot? It's not like they can just suit up 12 or anything. If you could get a guy who was guaranteed never to allow a return because he kicked it so damn far, wouldn't you want that, like a lot? Aren't there a kazillion people in the world who could do that? - again, not the skill stuff, just kick the ball a country mile. Don't get it.
Gould's been hurting us for sure on kickoffs. He's pretty much money on field goals, and whether he can't kick long or Lovie just favors high percentage FG's, I don't know. There aren't that many times in the game when a 50 plus field goal is really advisable, regardless of the kicker. I don't think it much matters. He may not be best in the league but surely he's top 5, isn't he?
Don't make him kick off, and teach whatever mule you corral for kickoffs to practice a bit on field goals so the occasional Hail Mary 60 yarder to win (or not lose) can at least be attempted.
May 9, 2008
#42 Rancid said . . .Phil: Just so you know, Beronas is exactly the kicker you're talking about as he hit a 60 something yarder against the colts a few years ago, except he can kick everything else too. Which is why I think he's worth slightly less than him. He was 4/5 from 50+. He did miss two from 20-29 (10/12), but he's a very good kicker as well. I'd say Gould is worth near that at least. And if his agent is angling for more, *fart noise* on that.
May 9, 2008
#43 mikebdot said . . .After looking at it all, I like him at
3 years, 4.2 million, plus a 1.5 million signing bonus
That's a cap hit of 1.9, minus the .435 he currently makes, which means if we have roughly 8 mill left in space this would leave us with 6.5. Priority one is to sign Tommie, then look at DH. The reality though is that it will take most or all of that just to extend Tommie.May 9, 2008
#44 Blog Down, Chicago Bears said . . .Rancid: That's where I'm coming from. And I think your 8 mill number is more correct as I read somewhere today right now total cap space is $13M and $5M is allocated to rookies. There isn't much you can do with $8M for both TH and DH...
Wonder if there is someone we could cut to save a few bucks. Anyone know of a good candidate? What would cutting Ricky Manning Jr. do?
May 9, 2008
#45 animal said . . .Ah, come on guys. I though this was 'da bears blog' not the 'end our post by redirecting innocent surfers to crappy 80's music videos blog'.
The Gould deal should be easy when were not talking a huge amount of money - by NFL standards anyway.
Look forward to your next post about the Devin Hester contract situation/Christopher Cross "Sailing" music video.
May 9, 2008
#46 Shady said . . .If you could bring back any former Bears still in the league, who would your top three be?
1. Bobby Engram
2. Mark Colombo
3. Walt HarrisFire away
May 9, 2008
#47 animal said . . .1. Columbo
2. Berrian
3. Ayanbadejo
4. Rosie Colvin??
May 9, 2008
#48 jeff said . . .Shady I thought about Rosy, Chris Villarial and Tony Parrish and they have all been cut- I dont think any of them are currently signed.
May 9, 2008
#49 shonbear said . . .1. thomas jones
2. marc columbo
3. jeff fisherMay 10, 2008
#50 Rancid said . . .1. Walter Payton
2. Mike Singleterry
3. Jim McMahonOh yea current guys sorry,
1. Bobby Engram
2. Tank Johnson
3. Marc ColumboMay 10, 2008
#51 shonbear said . . .In the vein of jeff fisher - How about Mike Singletary - I think he'll be a great coach someday and I wish he could do it for us at some point.
May 10, 2008
#52 mikebdot said . . .I knew something didn't seem right about that spelling. Thanks Rancid.
May 10, 2008
#53 jeff said . . .I absolutely hated Walt Harris. But not as much as I hated Jeremy Lincoln.
I don't want any of our former players. The core of the '06 team is still here. That's all I need.
May 10, 2008
#54 animal said . . .the core of the 06 team with the exception of the offensive player who carried us on his back
May 10, 2008
#55 Al in WI said . . .I KNEW I'd forget someone that would make me feel stupid! How the hell could I leave off TJ??
REVISED list:
1. TJ
2. Marc Colombo
3. Bobby EngramAnd Tank gets consideration for #3. Walt Harris has been very good as a Niner. My rational was, who would make us a better team? Harris is better than Manning Jr., Colombo would improve the o line and Engram would instantly be our best receiver.
May 10, 2008
#56 animal said . . .As for former Bears currently still in the league:
1. Berrian
2. A-train
3. Colvin
May 10, 2008
#57 mikebdot said . . .Interesting Al.
A-Train huh? Better than Ced and Co.?
Maybe... Is he still with Buffalo? Did Colvin sign anywhere yet?May 10, 2008
#58 OWNED said . . .And then fuckin' ditched us because he was too big headed.
May 10, 2008
#59 Shady said . . .1. Matt Suey
2. Matt Suey
3. Alphonso BooneMay 10, 2008
#60 shonbear said . . .Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!
May 11, 2008
#61 BearTransplant said . . .Jeff,
This looks like a dead subject, I think it's time for something new such as, Woodson, Mendenhall and Manningham all having injuries, glad we didn't draft any of them. Hope our guys stay healthy.
May 12, 2008
Let's not overlook one thing: Gould has been superb making kicks at Soldier Field in the Winter... If you watch the flags on the goalpoasts and the body language of visiting team's kickers you may realize this is no easy feat. How about the game winner he kicked against the Seahawks in OT (Jan 2007)? That was the coldest football game I've ever attended, and he was 3-3 with a 48 yarder, on a day in which I couldn't get drunk enough to even feel warmer. The winds at SF swirl, change direction, and he's been one of if not the very best kicker in the league there, even if it's the home field. 50 yard + kicks are desperation moves, anyways.
You'll notice the Bears brought in a couple of punters into camp this year; I think they're hoping one is really stellar on kickoffs, and they can at least think about possibly cutting Maynard, and re-sign Gould (a longshot, but it sounds like Angelo). Paying top (of high, in the Bears' case) dollar for a punter and a kicker isn't done too often.
And Phil from SAXT, talk to anyone who's ever had to kick off/punt/kick a field goal more than 10 times in a football game, and they'll tell you it's extremely tiring on your leg, because you have to really apply upward motion to keep the ball in the air longer, unlike say a soccer kick. You also are only 3-4 steps from the ball in the case of a field goal. You also have to be very flexible, and be able to exert your leg as much as possible and extend it as far as posible; it's much easier to get injured just kicking the ball than it looks. Groin pulls anyone? You wouldn't devote a non-kicker to this position; the skill set is so radically different, and teams get to the ball so quickly that you can't risk another pointless injury (to an actual football player eg. a non-kicker).
Fweh. I'm done. Discuss.
May 12, 2008
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.