No reunion coming for Bears, Robbie Gould

Sorry Bears fans, Robbie Gould isn’t coming back to Chicago.

The kicker who was released by Ryan Pace in 2016 was slapped with the franchise tag by the 49ers Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Game of tag officially underway: 49ers placed their franchise tag on kicker Robbie Gould today, per league sources. SF is first team this off-season to use its franchise tag.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 26, 2019

Gould was considered the front-runner to replace the recently departed Cody Parkey in the Bears’ lineup.

Not anymore.

Gould, with the franchise tag, is guaranteed a salary in the top five of his position in 2019. The highest kickers in the NFL averaged a salary of around $4.2 million in 2018.

So, the Gould rush is over. He’s not coming back. It’s time to move on.

But to who? There just aren’t many talented candidates in free agency, which could force the Bears to spend a draft pick on one of this year’s top prospects, like LSU’s Cole Tracy.

Man, that would sting. Not quite as bad as a kicker missing a game-winning kick in the playoffs, but it would still sting.