The 49ers will begin their mandatory mini-camp Tuesday to wrap up their offseason workouts. Kicker Robbie Gould will not be in attendance as his holdout continues according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
San Francisco placed the franchise tag on Gould after not working out a multiyear extension in the offseason. Rather than let the 36-year-old explore free agency, they placed the franchise tag on him to ensure he stayed in the Bay Area for at least one more season. The hope was to also extend the window of inking a long-term deal.
Gould’s desire to play in the midwest, perhaps back with the Chicago Bears where he spent the first 11 years of his career, isn’t a secret.
He requested a trade in April after contract negotiations stalled and the 49ers were reported to have interest in free agent kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Gostkowski eventually re-signed with the Patriots.
It’s not a surprise Gould didn’t sign his tag before the mini-camp, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if his holdout took him through training camp. If it lasts into the season he stands to lose out on paychecks. The 49ers owe him $4.9 million this season under the franchise tag.
Second-year kicker Jonathan Brown is the only kicker in camp. He spent time with the Bengals last season as a rookie out of Louisville. Brown will get plenty of reps with Gould out, and may wind up on the roster if the veteran kicker winds up not reporting at all.
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