Hmmm.....San Francisco 49ers interested in Stephen Gostkowski

[soulman]

San Francisco 49ers interested in Stephen Gostkowski, per report

ByKirk Larrabee 91 minutes ago

 

https://247sports.com/nfl/chicago-bears/Article/San-Francisco-49ers-interested-in-Stephen-Gostkowski-131045129/?utm_source=247Sports Newsletter&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=190409_131200_Chicago Bears&utm_content=Link&liveconnect=C3-52-7D-DF-F0-AF-8E-1A-53-7F-74-41-9D-F1-31-5F190409_131200ChicagoBears

 

With Robbie Gould apparently facing a still-uncertain future in San Francisco, the 49ers have begun to show interest in free agent kicker Stephen Gostkowski, according to a report from Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. 

The 49ers have long expressed a desire to keep Gould, who connected on 72-of-75 field goals in his first two seasons in San Francisco after being signed to a two-year deal in 2017. Gould was given the non-exclusive franchise tag by the 49ers in February to prevent him from reaching free agency, where he likely would have received a number of suitors and would have had the opportunity to return to Chicago, where he played for over a decade and still lives with his family. Gould has yet to sign his franchise tender and, according to Maiocco, may not be thrilled about the fact he wasn't allowed to test the free agent market. 

"The 49ers and Gould appear to be at odds over the team’s decision to lock him up for this season on the franchise tag," Maiocco wrote. "Gould has made it clear he wanted to be able to explore his options as a free agent, especially the possibility of a return to Chicago, where he played his first 11 NFL seasons."

Gostkowski, who has to this point played his entire 13-year career with the New England Patriots, would certainly be a capable replacement for the 49ers if things didn't work out with Gould. The Patriots have shown interest in re-signing Gostkowski and in March (according to a report from Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston) were reportedly making progress on a new deal. But on April 2, Michael Girardi of the NFL Network tweeted there wasn't much happening between the Patriots and Gostkowski, with financial difference possibly standing in the way of an agreement.

Gostkowski, 35, has hit 87.4 percent of his field goal attempts on his career and 98.9 percent of his extra point attempts. He has four Pro Bowl appearances under his belt and in 2018 was 27-of-32 on field goals and 49-of-50 on extra points. He made a base salary of $3.2 million in 2018 as part of a four-year, $17.2 million deal he signed with the Patriots in 2015. 

The 36-year-old Gould, if he played under the franchise tag in 2019, would be due for a base salary of $4.971 million. He expressed an openness to staying in San Francisco at the end of the 2018 season but also hasn't hid his affinity for Chicago and the Bears in recent months, and he was even in attendance during Chicago's loss in the Wild Card playoff round when former Bears kicker Cody Parkey missed what would have been a game-winning kick in the final seconds.

Gould under franchise tag rules is able to sign offer sheets with other teams, but any interested team would have to be willing to ship two first-round picks in return if the 49ers chose not to match their offer. The 49ers could pursue a trade if they decide to move on from Gould, or they also have the ability to rescind the franchise tag if they wish. 49ers general manager John Lynch last spoke about Gould in late March, telling reporters at the league meetings in Arizona here was still interest on the team's end in coming to an agreement on a long-term deal but expressed uncertainty over whether or not it was a realistic possibility. 

“That’s not dead, either,” Lynch said, per NBC Sports Bay Area. “I think the franchise gives you some flexibility in that the player is a part of you, but we’re still trying to figure it out and (will) probably take another go at trying to figure this out. It takes everyone wanting to do that. We’ll see if that’s a reality or not.”

[soulman]

Cancel that;  2yrs/$8.5 mil.