[CBFF] [Fwd: Bears give Robbie Gould 5-year extension]

[Tom Shannon]

http://feeds.chicagotribune.com/~r/chicagotribune/sports/~3/288924525/cs-080512-robbie-gould-chicago-bears,0,6895288.story 
<http://feeds.chicagotribune.com/%7Er/chicagotribune/sports/%7E3/288924525/cs-080512-robbie-gould-chicago-bears,0,6895288.story>

www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-080512-robbie-gould-chicago-bears,0,6895288.story


  chicagotribune.com


    5-year extension with Bears makes Robbie Gould NFL's highest-paid kicker

3:46 PM CDT, May 12, 2008

Robbie Gould figured his big payday was coming. It was just a matter of 
when.

The Bears made Gould the highest-paid kicker in the NFL Monday by 
signing him to a five-year extension through 2013. Terms were not 
immediately disclosed.

"It's pretty awesome. I'm excited," Gould said while dining Monday 
afternoon with his agent, Brian Mackler. "Today is a good day."

Gould's absence during voluntary workouts stirred talk that he was upset 
with his contract situation. True, he might not have totally pleased, 
but Gould's frustration wasn't going to escalate into an ugly battle. 
Gould will be with the team when organized team activities begin May 19.

"I wasn't going to hold out by any means," he said. "The workouts, they 
were voluntary.

"I'm just glad to get the deal done and to stay in Chicago. I love the 
fans. I love the city. I'm just really exciting about staying here for 
the next six years."

Gould is the Bears all-time field goal percentage leader among kickers 
with at least 50 attempts, connecting on 84.8 percent of his kicks (84 
of 99). The former Penn State Nittany Lion has been successful on 99 of 
100 PATs. Of his 84 FGs, 35 have come from 30-39 yards; 25 from 40-49 
yards. His career-long of 49 yards came against the Giants in New York.

With Gould's original four-year contract up after the 2008 season, it 
made sense for the Bears to lock up the three-year pro. Bears general 
manager Jerry Angelo spoke about rewarding high-character guys, and he 
followed through with extensions to Alex Brown and Desmond Clark. The 
Bears are having contract discussions with Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher 
and Devin Hester.

Gould and other kickers around the league watched Lawrence Tynes get a 
five-year, $7 million deal after the Giants won the Super Bowl.

"But we're talking about two absolutely different deals," Gould said. 
"With me, mine was obviously something that was on the backburner. But 
the Bears talked about getting mine done, and it's done.

"I just want to come in here next season and be the best kicker in the 
league. Signing a new deal doesn't change my goals. I still want to be 
the best player I can be, just go out and do my job to help my team win."

vxmcclure at tribune.com <mailto:vxmcclure at tribune.com>

Copyright © 2008, ChicagoSports.com <http://www.chicagosports.com/>


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