Gould, Steltz and McManis to IR

[beareezyfaneezy]

While injuries have depleted the Bears offense and defense in recent weeks, their special teams unit had remained relatively unscathed. But that changed in a dramatic way Sunday against the Vikings.

On Tuesday, the Bears placed kicker Robbie Gould (calf) and special teams standouts Sherrick McManis (knee) and Craig Steltz (chest) on injured reserve after they got hurt in Minnesota.

Gould, who strained his left calf during pre-game warm-ups, was replaced on the roster by Olindo Mare, a 16-year NFL veteran who won a three-man kicking competition Tuesday at Halas Hall.

Mare has converted 81.2 percent of his field-goal attempts (350 of 431) in 15 NFL seasons with the Dolphins (1997-2006), Saints (2007), Seahawks (2008-10) and Panthers (2011). Last year Mare made 22 of 28 field goal tries (78.6 percent) for Carolina.

The Bears also promoted receiver Joe Anderson from their practice squad, signed linebacker Jerry Franklin off the Cowboys practice squad, and waived veteran offensive lineman Andre Gurode, whom they had signed Nov. 27. Chicago's active roster now stands at 52.

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/art...a-d89419979835

[DaSuperfan]

Gonna miss our biggest scoring threat.

[brh]

Wow! Didn't see that coming. If we do manage to get to the playoffs, I sure hope none of the games come down to a last minute FG because I have zero confidence in Olindo Mare.

[Mikefive]

Strained calf = IR??? What the heck happened???

[Aussie77]

seems a strange injury to put your Kicker on IR obviously they had been told he won't be back for a month so they pulled the trigger Mare is a scary proposition though

[jamus34]

Mare?? ****ing MARE???

THAT'S your answer to trying to replace the bears all time best kicker?

with a guy who sucked 10 years ago????

obviously Emery is trying to tank Lovie methinks

[Moriarty]

Mare?? ****ing MARE???

THAT'S your answer to trying to replace the bears all time best kicker?

with a guy who sucked 10 years ago????

obviously Emery is trying to tank Lovie methinks

You're enraged about an experienced 81% career, 79% last season kicker as a late season emergency replacement?

[Navin101]

Who would you rather have? There are not too many viable PKs available olin December.

[MKHawk]

When the Hawks signed Mare back in 2008 (2009?) I hated the move. I remembered him as a hack from Miami. Our GM who signed him also seemingly hated the move, as he drafted a kicker in the 7th round that year and kept him on the 53-man all year long looking for a reason to cut Mare and go with the young guy. Mare was very good (he did cost us a game against the Bears in 2009, if I recall correctly with a couple of misses, but that's the only negative I can remember), for his run with us. Good leg (both field goals and kickoffs) and much better accuracy than I expected.