Connor Barth to remain a Chicago Bear in 2017
Chicago is bringing back their place kicker on a one-year deal.
While many of you would like to hear about the latest scuttlebutt regarding free agents at skill positions, this is a friendly reminder that kickers are people too. They decide football games quite often, whether us fans like it or not. So yes, a free agent kicker has signed this morning, and he will be staying put in the Windy City. Adam Schefter of ESPN was on it:
Bears agreed to terms with K Connor Barth on a one-year contract.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2017
Connor Barth is a veteran kicker who is entering his ninth season. Undrafted out of North Carolina, Barth landed with Kansas City in his rookie season. Five of his next six years were spent in Tampa Bay with a pit-stop to Denver in between. Last fall, Barth joined the Bears and kicked in all 16 games. He finished 18 of 23 on the year and was 31 of 32 on extra points. As we have all relaized, extra points are hardly a gimme anymore. For his career, Barth has hit 84 percent of his kicks and tends to be solid from shorter distances. His longest boot came in 2012 from 57 yards out. In 2016, Barth was reliable from anywhere under 50 yards. He was only one of three on kicks beyond 50 yards.
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Steady kickers are hard to find, so going forward with a veteran kicker is a safe move by the Bears. You know exactly what you are getting, and if anybody presents themselves along the way, then you can reevaluate the position is necessary. I’m sure the Bears are hoping Barth is used as minimally as possible as they look to launch some new pieces on offense. It will certainly be a challenge, but Chicago is taking a shot on a newly acquired quarterback, Mike Glennon from Tampa Bay. One thing is for certain: moving on from Jay Cutler was a step in the right direction.