One offseason move each NFL team must make

Chicago Bears-Sign Robbie Gould

Cody Parkey’s struggles last year were well-documented, highlighted by hitting four uprights in a home game against the Detroit Lions and the infamous “double-doink” at the end of the Bears’ Wild Card Round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Overall, for the regular season, he missed seven field goals and three extra points.

The Bears have added some early competition for Parkey, signing former Tulsa kicker Redford Jones after holding a tryout with several kickers. Going the cheaper route is a nod to the four-year $15 million deal Chicago signed Parkey to last offseason, and they’ll owe him $3.5 million this year if he kicks for them or not while taking on over $5 million in dead money if they cut him.

Kicking in Chicago is never easy, as it particularly lives up to its name as “The Windy City” when cold weather sets in. But if there’s someone who can succeed in that environment, Gould has proven he can.

Over the last two years with the San Francisco 49ers Gould has remained one of the better kickers in the NFL, making 72 of 75 field goal attempts. In 2018 he led the league in converting field goals, making 97.1 percent of his attempts (33-for-34).

Gould spent 11 seasons (2005-2015) as the Bears’ kicker, making 85.4 percent of his field goals (276-for-323) over that span. Of those 47 misses, eight came from 50-plus yards out with 28 more from 40-49 yards out. During his career, he has made 86.7 percent of his field goals outdoors (287-for-331).

No offense to Jones, but the Bears have to bring in someone in who can legitimately replace Parkey. And, in a bit of good fortune, Gould is a free agent.