The battle to replace Cody Parkey in Chicago is getting a little tighter. The Bears have released kickers Redford Jones and John Baron II as part of a handful of roster moves made Sunday, they announced on Twitter.
After Parkey’s now infamous double-doink eliminated the Bears from the playoffs last year, they’ve gone all out in their search for his replacement. They just had eight kickers at their rookie minicamp for tryouts, and they had four on the roster before making this move. Jones is the former Tulsa kicker who the Bears signed back in January. Baron was an undrafted free agent from San Diego State who Chicago just added last week.
With Baron and Jones gone, only Elliott Fry and Chris Blewitt are left. The Bears have left no stone unturned, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they weren’t done adding to the kicking group just yet. Fry shined in the recently-folded AAF, while Blewitt is the former Pitt kicker signed back in March.
Jones and Baron weren’t the only ones who got bounced from the 90-man roster, as defensive back Adarius Pickett and defensive end Lawrence Marshall were both cut as well. Pickett and Marshall were both rookie undrafted free agents who were just signed recently, from UCLA and Michigan respectively.
The Bears signed two rookie undrafted free agents to take their place, offensive lineman Tommy Doles from Northwestern and defensive lineman Jalen Dalton from North Carolina. Both players participated in the minicamp.
The Bears have had an unstable kicking situation recently, and it’s one of the team’s biggest needs as they look to repeat as NFC North champions in 2019. The battle will be closely monitored in training camp.
Blewitt is a terrible name for a kicker!
Emmett Carpenter!!!
If his first name was Ian he’d be known as I Blewitt?
I agree with letting Chris Blewitt go. But they should seriously consider Chris Naileditt.
Redford, however, is a great name… for a butler.
Am I missing something? The obvious choice for their kicker next year should be Matt Bryant best kicker available and much better option than the 2 scrubs on their roster. Connected on 95% of his field goals and 94% on extra points last year but what do I know.
last 5 words are the key there.
The price is not always right
Yep, like the price for Bears tickets.
Bryant kicker indoors and has lost leg strength. I’m sure he’s an option, but he will probably still be available if these two choke in camp. As will other vets.
i know people will laugh at me for this, but why did they immediately cut parkey at the end of the year with no replacement available. couldn’t they at least wait to see if they could get anyone who could out play him?
Their was no way they could have brought him back into that locker room.
After blowing the season then going to whine about it on national tv their was no way players would accept him into the locker room.
Pretty much. I think they would have brought him to camp, until he had his unannounced pity party on national TV, after people defended him.
One option for teams with a kicker problem is to take more 4th down gambles. The Bears will likely be reluctant to try that however as Trubisky can provide no help with his 20.8 passer rating in those situations.