Chicago Bears: 3 intriguing storylines heading into training camp
Who is going to kick for this team?
Ugh — I know — I’m just as sick of talking about the Bears kicking situation as you probably are of hearing about it. But you know why we’re still talking about it? Because it’s still an issue that the team has failed to adequately address since the end of last season. It’s also because they have a Super Bowl-caliber roster with a toilet bowl-caliber kicking group.
Unless, and until, the Bears remedy this situation, any talk of a Super Bowl campaign will be hijacked and derailed by the kicking situation.
While Eddy Pineiro and Elliott Fry seemed to have a decent final day, the minicamp was a virtual disaster for the squad. It started with each kicker missing a 42-yard field goal back-to-back-to-back. Needless to say, Nagy was not pleased.
All 3 #Bears kickers missed consecutive FG attempts in practice today. Matt Nagy was asked what went through his mind when that happened:
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) June 11, 2019
“Whatever went through your mind went through my mind.”
The following morning, Chris Blewitt was released, leaving only two kickers heading into camp. You don’t get the sense that the opening week kicker is currently on this roster. Look, they were willing to send a 7th round (albeit conditional) pick to the Los Angeles Raiders for an unproven Eddy Pineiro, so why not be willing to throw a 6th rounder to the 49ers for Robbie Gould? Now maybe they have and the 49ers asking price is absurd, and if so, that’s fine.
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However, the Bears cannot go into next season with the kicking situation the way it is and be considered a contender. Perhaps Gould’s availability will improve, or maybe a player will surprisingly become available during camp or even after the first round of cuts. Who knows. But what I do know is this situation will continue to be a story until it isn’t.