NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears are set to arrive at Bourbonnais in 32 days to open training camp. And unless things change between now and then, they’ll do so with Eddy Piñeiro and Elliott Fry as the candidates vying for the vacancy at place-kicker. But that doesn’t mean those are the only names that will be on the Bears’ minds this summer.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune opens up his mailbag and answers questions about (among other things) the Bears’ kicking position. And while I should ultimately be concerned that Biggs made reference to the sideshow “inching toward Scott Norwood territory,” I am instead intrigued by some of the names Biggs offers up as possibilities for the Bears this summer.
Chicago isn’t the only city with a kicking conundrum. So it makes sense that Biggs says the Bears will keep a close eye on kicking competitions around the league during training camp. Biggs offers up veterans such as Cairo Santos (Buccaneers) and Chris Boswell (Steelers) who are taking on up-start young kickers for jobs in their respective camps. But one name that stands out above the rest is Kaare Vedvik.
Vedvik is the backup kicker for the Ravens again, and he isn’t going to knock Justin Tucker off his perch any time soon. HOWEVER, he could become a trade candidate. Last year, Vedvik went 8-for-9 in the preseason (including a 56-yarder!) before spending the year on the reserve/non-football injury list after sustaining injuries in an assault in Baltimore. If Vedvik is healthy and kicks well again, he could be someone the Bears target in a trade if Piñeiro and Fry don’t look the part in Bears camp.
Should the Bears make a move to trade for Vedvik, one thing they could have in their favor is Jamie Kohl. Chicago hired Kohl earlier in the offseason to be the team’s kicking consultant. Kohl runs a successful kicking camp, which has worked with Vedvik in the past. It would be quite convenient for the Bears to focus in on another one of Kohl’s prized pupils if it comes to it.
Let’s check out some Vedvik highlights:
Ooh. He can punt, too:
