Robbie Gould to Test Free Agency, Colts to Hire Notre Dame’s Brian Mason, and Other NFL Bullets
Day two of the combine is in the books, and day three is underway. We will have plenty of coverage of the quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends today at BN NFL. First, let’s talk about a familiar face, Robbie Gould.
- Robbie Gould has spent the last six seasons in San Francisco, but according to one NFL insider, he will be kicking somewhere else in 2023.
- Gould told Adam Schefter that he would test free agency later this month. Gould made 27 of 32 field goals for the 49ers last season. That’s good for 84.4 percent. The veteran kicker has a career 86.5 percent field goal rate and has made 85.3 percent of his kicks over the last five seasons.
- But I wouldn’t get too excited about a potential reunion, Bears fans. Robbie Gould still lives in Chicago full-time during the offseason. Still, he told Trey Wingo last month that he wasn’t interested in kicking in the cold at this point in his career.
“I live here [Chicago] full-time but I don’t know if I want to kick in the cold anymore,” Gould said with a laugh. “I’d look to get a dome and some warm weather first. 40 years, 18 years of doing this, I deserve that I think.”
- Shane Steichen continues to round out his coaching staff in Indianapolis this weekend. Reports indicate that Notre Dame special teams coordinator Brian Mason will accept a role on Steichen’s staff. The position is unknown at this point, but it’s worth nothing that Steichen and the Colts have not named a special teams coordinator.
- Mason spent four seasons as the special teams coordinator at Cincinnati before joining Marcus Freeman’s staff at Notre Dame last season.
- The Fighting Irish blocked an insane seven punts last season after blocking six in the previous 10 seasons. “The Irish special teams also finished No. 6 in the FEI Efficiency Rankings. According to Irish Sports Daily: The average starting field position for the Irish offense was their own 33.4-yard line, which was No. 1 in the country. On the flip side, the average starting position for Notre Dame’s opponents was their own 26.1-yard line (No. 5). The net starting field position was +7.3, which was good for No. 2 in the nation. Notre Dame went 9-2 when winning the field position battle and 0-2 when opponents won the metric.”
- That seems like an excellent hire for Steichen and the Colts. It’s also a homecoming for Mason, who grew up as a Colts fan in Indiana.
- Eagles wide receiver Zach Pascal was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint on Friday in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Police in Prince George’s County said two offenders approached Pascal early Friday morning, pointed a gun, and took his diamond necklace.
- The Eagles said they’ve been in contact with Pascal and are “happy to hear he’s doing fine.” Glad that Pascal wasn’t injured in the altercation.
- The potential running back market shrunk significantly on Friday. We learned that, unsurprisingly, Josh Jacobs would be tagged by the Raiders if no extension is reached by Tuesday’s deadline. But, of course, we know how Jacobs feels about having the franchise tag placed on him. At the Pro Bowl last month, Jacobs said he would be the “hero turned villain” if the Raiders went that route.
- The Dallas Cowboys plan to do the same with running back Tony Pollard:
- While Pollard and Jacobs appear to be off the board, Dallas’ decision to tag Pollard potentially adds Ezekiel Elliott to the free agent class.
- Friday’s combine recap:
- The post-deadline Blackhawks are a smattering of names you wouldn’t recognize unless you’ve been paying close attention all season.
- Unfortunate news in the NBA this morning. Grizzlies star Ja Morant is in trouble again after another incident with a firearm. This is sad at this point. I hope someone in this kid’s life can get into his ear before it’s too late.
