Instability, inefficiency, and inaccuracy are words that have been used to describe the Chicago Bears kicking game since the team parted ways with Robbie Gould in September 2016.
Hopefully, Cody Parkey can make us forget the last two years of kicking misfires:
Former Dolphins’ kicker Cody Parkey intends to sign with the Chicago Bears, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2018
Parkey and the Bears seem like quite the match. The Bears haven’t had much stability (or productivity, for that matter) at the position and Chicago would make Parkey’s fourth team in five years.
Clearly, both sides could use someone to settle down with.
As for the stats, Parkey has made 86.4 percent of his field goal attempts and is coming off a career-best season in which he connected on 91.3 percent of his field goals. He made good on 21 of 23 tries with the Miami Dolphins in 2017, his best showing since his rookie season in 2014 when he made 32 of 36 kicks with the Philadelphia Eagles. Parkey made the Pro Bowl that season and set a new rookie scoring record, breaking a mark once held by former Bears great Kevin Butler.
If the two sides come to a deal, we might need to tip our caps to new Special Teams Coordinator Chris Tabor. Parkey and Tabor crossed paths in 2016 when both were with the Cleveland Browns. That season, Parkey made 20 of 25 attempted field goals.
The Bears entered the offseason with no one under contract at place kicker or punter, so it would be fitting that the team moved quickly to find someone who can come in and make things happen in the kicking game.
And in case you missed it, the Bears also reportedly came to agreements with tight end Trey Burton and wide receiver Allen Robinson. Quite a start to the offseason, if you ask me.