National Football League

Bears K Gould closing in on history

Published Oct. 21, 2011 5:58 a.m. ET

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There are few things Robbie Gould finds more distasteful than a bad kick, whether it's in a game or in practice. Good thing for him, he's rarely off target.

Now, he has a chance to make history.

When the Chicago Bears play Tampa Bay in London on Sunday, Gould can become the league's career leader in field-goal percentage and tie the late Walter Payton for second place on the Bears scoring list.

Which means more? That's no contest.

When you play for the Bears, certain milestones have just a little more, um, sweetness.

''The field-goal percentage is great,'' Gould said. ''Really, the record I care about right now is Walter Payton for points. Any time you can get in that same realm and be mentioned in the same sentence as Walter Payton, especially in this organization, you're doing something really right or you've been here for a long time.''

With 739 points, he trails Payton by 11. Kevin Butler holds the club record with 1,116 points, so Gould still has a long way to go there.

Still, the accuracy mark is there for the taking. Third in field-goal percentage at 86.4 percent behind Mike Vanderjagt and San Diego's Nate Kaeding, he can move to the top of the NFL's all-time list simply by making his next two attempts.

The way he's been converting, chances are good that will happen.

Already one of the most accurate kickers entering this season, Gould has made all 13 attempts and tied the fifth-longest streak to start a season in club history. He set the Bears record by making his first 24 during the 2006 Super Bowl season. No other kicker in the league has attempted more than 10 field goals without a miss, and when you throw in the fact that he's 15 for 15 on extra points, it's been just about a perfect season all around for Gould.

''I don't know if the guy is doing extra squats or what it is, but he is booting the ball,'' linebacker Lance Briggs said. ''This will be an opportunity to show that he's one of the best in the game. I think he'll continue to do it now and throughout his career.''

That's he's spent all seven seasons in Chicago makes it even more remarkable.

He's battled the wind and frigid temperatures, and usually, it's no contest - Gould wins. One reason is he's put in positions to succeed.

Coach Lovie Smith isn't going to go for a field goal unless he thinks Gould can make it, but there's more to it than that. There's the work he puts in during the week, in the weight room and on the field.

Gould can often be seen setting up in the corner and kicking the ball off the upright, a drill that assistant special teams coach Kevin O'Dea designed to help his accuracy.

''He does that drill every day to get his line, to teach himself to get the line,'' special teams coordinator Dave Toub said. ''That's how he gets his accuracy because once you get your line, that's the only thing you can count on. ... Every time you get up there, you have to decide on your line. Sometimes, it might be outside the upright. You just hit your line, trust your line. You let the wind do the rest. Sometimes, the wind can fool you. That's the tough thing about kicking in the wind at Soldier Field.''

It hasn't affected Gould, though.

He's made at least 83 percent of his field-goal attempts since his rookie season, and he's hit all but one of 224 extra points in his career. If he sticks around, he could break Butler's club scoring record. Management might have a say in that, with Gould's contract expiring after the 2013 season.

''I'm going to play as long as they'll allow me to play,'' Gould said. ''Do I think I have 20 years in me? Sure, why not? If I can convince (general manager Jerry Angelo) of that, that would be great. It's been great. The city's been awesome. The organization's been great. I'm thankful for the opportunity.''

Notes: Fined a combined $45,000 the past two weeks for illegal hits, S Brandon Meriweather told the Chicago Tribune he needs to change is approach. ''I have to change it, or else I'm going to keep getting fined,'' he told the paper. ''Eventually if you get enough fines, you're going to end up getting kicked out the league. For me to continue to do something I love, I just have to change the way I play.'' Meriweather did not play against Minnesota on Sunday after making four starts. ... Would the Bears have been better off leaving for London earlier in the week, giving them a few more days to adjust to the time difference? ''I would have liked to,'' Briggs said. ''But that's not my decision.'' Brian Urlacher had a different opinion: ''I wish we could have left later.'' Then again, had the Bears left on Monday, Urlacher said, ''I would say that was the best way to do it, too.''

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