Bears kicker Robbie Gould doesn’t view the decision to move extra-point attempts back to the 15-yard line as a big deal.
“It’s a 33-yarder. Is that really a challenge?” Gould asked Wednesday during organized team activities. “I’m not really worried about it to be honest with you.
“The biggest thing is that I got a job to do, and I’ve got to go out there and do it from whatever distance they put it at. Whether you like it or not, you still got to play football ,and you still got a job to do. To me, it’s not much of a story.”
There are concerns that the rule change, which was approved by team owners by a 30-2 margin last week, could favor indoor teams.
“I don’t know,” said Gould, who attempted the 33-yard extra points during a trial run last preseason. “We’ll have to see how it plays out.”
Last year, kickers made more than 99 percent of extra-point attempts from the 2-yard line – a figure that has remained virtually unchanged for years.
Gould, the sixth most accurate kicker in NFL history, has made 91.1 percent of his field-goal attempts (51-for-56) between 30 and 36 yards in his career. He’s never missed an attempt between 20 and 29 yards.
“It’s a rule,” Gould said. “They changed it. On to the next, right?”
Gould is fully recovered from the quadriceps injury that cost him the final four games of last season. He’s also changed his training to combat further injury and his age.
“I feel awesome,” he said. “I’ve been kicking a lot.”
Other responsibilities
Safety Antrel Rolle didn’t participate in the first day of OTAs. He celebrated the birth of his son last week.
“I could have never ever imagined having a feeling like this in the world,” Rolle said last week on Instagram. “Jr. [has] two parents that love him endlessly and I am sure he can see that already.”
Receiver Kevin White and running back Jeremy Langford also are missing OTAs this week. They are taking part in the NFL Players’ Union Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles.
The Rat returns
Veteran defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff, who missed voluntary minicamp, joined the Bears at OTAs. Ratliff said he could play either tackle or end in their new 3-4 defense.
“I’m whatever they need me to be,” he said.
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