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Zane Gonzalez kicking towards his new workforce, the San Francisco 49ers.
When information broke that the Carolina Panthers had re-signed Eddy Piñeiro to a brand new two-year contract, it was broadly reported that common supervisor Scott Fitterer was going to launch Zane Gonzalez in a corresponding transfer. That’s, in fact, till San Francisco 49ers common supervisor John Lynch swoops in and labored out a cope with the second-year GM to carry the 27-year-old kicker to Santa Clara County, as reported by Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
“The Panthers traded kicker Zane Gonzalez to the 49ers, per his agent Mike McCartney,” wrote Tom Pelissero. “The groups will swap picks in 2025, per supply.
“Extra particularly, it is conditional 2025 late-round compensation to Carolina for Gonzalez, who had been advised he’d be launched. As an alternative, headed to SF.”
Does the addition of Gonzalez, even in trade for a future decide swap, formally shut the door on bringing again Robbie Gould for a seventh season in San Francisco? Within the opinion of David Lombardi, a 49ers staff writer for The Athleticthat is not essentially the case.
“The 49ers are paying subsequent to nothing for Zane Gonzalez (conditional 2025 late-round decide) and he has no assured cash,” Lombardi wrote. “There isn’t any indication that SF is finished with its kicker search.
“They might even simply be doing this to place strain on the Robbie Gould negotiations. AllTBD.”
Happily, by Gould’s personal admission, he nonetheless has loads left within the tank, so if Lombardi’s opinion proves true, there’s an opportunity for a reunion left.
Robbie Gould Thinks he can Nonetheless Kick Into his 40s
Discussing his future plans for skilled soccer after the conclusion of his 18th skilled season, Gould let or not it’s identified that he has no intention of hanging up his cleats any time quickly.
“I am nowhere close to retiring,” Gould advised NBC Sports activities Bay Space. “I bought loads left to do from a profession perspective — No. 1 being profitable a Tremendous Bowl. And, two, I am fairly near numerous milestones I believe could be fairly neat to have the ability to accomplish.”
After handing over a powerful 2022 season that featured simply 5 missed subject objective makes an attempt and one missed further level, it is clear Gould can nonetheless kick at an above-average stage within the NFL. Sadly for 49ers followers, there may be some competitors for his providers, as Gould himself has already talked about a workforce he would fortunately play for in 2023 if afforded a chance.
Robbie Gould has Eyes Exterior of the San Francisco 49ers
Chatting with a ruckus crowd of followers at ESPN 1000’s Waddle & Silvy present for the station’s twenty fifth anniversary particular, Gould boldly declared that he would fortunately return to Chicago to shut out his NFL profession.
“If Chicago known as me and stated ‘we would like you again,’ would I do it? Completely,” Gould stated via Brendan Sugrue, the assistant editor of The Bears Wire.
After starting his NFL profession with the Bears in 2005, Gould performed 11 seasons for Chicago earlier than taking his skills to New York and ultimately San Francisco, the place he performed from 2017-2022. Whereas it is unlikely the Bears will likely be profitable a Tremendous Bowl in 2023, as no workforce has ever gone from the worst report within the NFL to champions over a one-year interval, it could be serendipity to see Gould’s profession come full circle, and for the Chicago resident to shut out his profession in entrance of his family and friends.