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Bears' Gould on target for NFL history

The superstitious nature of athletes being what it is, you might think the Bears' Robbie Gould wouldn't want to be reminded that he needs to make his next 2 field-goal attempts to become the most accurate kicker in NFL history.

But reminding him would be redundant. Gould knows. He checks the numbers. Often.

“You're always chasing something,” he said. “Making field goals is what I get paid to do, and kicking touchbacks is part of my job.”

Gould has never done his job better than he has in the first six weeks of this season.

He has converted each of his 13 field-goal attempts, including a season-long 51-yarder last week.

In less than half a season, he also has established a personal best with 18 touchbacks. Despite the rule change this year moving kickoffs up five yards to the 35-yard line, Gould's touchbacks still are impressive; only seven kickers have more.

But it's Gould's dogged pursuit of the career field-goal accuracy record that is most intriguing.

He has converted 86.4 percent of his attempts since being signed by the Bears as a free agent on Oct. 8, 2005, after being cut by New England and Baltimore. The Patriots signed him as a free agent after he went undrafted out of Penn State.

In his previous six seasons, Gould's most accurate was in 2008, when he knocked down 26 of 29 tries (89.7 percent). His ultimate goal isn't to hit 90 percent of his kicks. He wants 100 percent because he knows any miss could be critical.

“If I go out there and I miss a field goal, it could have implications on our team,” he said. “It's not just losing a game early in the season, but that loss or that missed field goal could potentially cost us a playoff spot.”

If Gould, who stands at career 172 of 199, hits his first try Sunday, he would be in a dead heat with Nate Kaeding, who has 173 of 200 and is currently on injured reserve with San Diego.

Two straight moves Gould to 86.567, with Kaeding at 86.50. Mike Vanderjagt is No. 2 at 86.46 percent (230 of 266).

Vanderjagt played his home games in the controlled environments of the Cowboys' and Colts' domes, while Kaeding played his home games in the temperate climate of Southern California.

Gould has thrived outside in the muck and mire of Chicago winters.

As fulfilling as the accuracy mark would be personally, Gould always is quick to give credit to the flawless long-snapping of 14-year veteran Patrick Mannelly; former Bears punter Brad Maynard, who was his holder for his first six seasons; and current punter and holder Adam Podlesh.

“It's always great to be mentioned in that conversation,” he said. “But I've had a lot of help along the way. Our field-goal protection this year has been outstanding. Look at how great Pat Mannelly's been and Brad and now Adam Podlesh have been. I'm pretty lucky.

“To be mentioned in that conversation is a tribute to how hard I work every day. When I leave the game, I want to be the best that ever played the game.

“It's great that I have that opportunity, but I'm going to have a lot more kicks, hopefully, than just the next one or two. It's great, I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully we can get there and keep it for the rest of my career.”

There's another record on the horizon that Gould considers maybe even more noteworthy than the FG mark. He needs 12 points to pass Walter Payton's 750 and move into second place in franchise history behind Kevin Butler's Bears-record 1,116 points.

“The field-goal percentage is great,” Gould said. “But really the record I care about right now is hawking down Walter Payton for points.

“Any time you can get in that same realm and be mentioned in the same sentence as Walter Payton, you're doing something really right or you've been here for a very long time.”

It's possible Gould could get both marks Sunday at London's Wembley Stadium, a foreign surface that doesn't intimidate him.

“Just like Soldier Field,” he said. “It can't get any worse.”

ŸFollow Bob's Bears reports via Twitter @BobLeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.

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LEFT: Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould (9) kicks a field goal as Chicago Bears punter Adam Podlesh (8) holds during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)RIGHT: Big Ben and the Parliament buildings are seen from the London Eye Wheel in London, England, Friday, July 13, 2001. Westminster Abbey is in the background right. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
FILE - In this photo taken Sept. 11, 2011, Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould (9) watches a field goal with holder Adam Podiesh (8) during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Chicago. Already one of the most accurate kickers in league history, Gould hasn't missed a field goal or extra point this season, and he just might pass Walter Payton for second place on Chicago's all-time points list when the Bears play Tampa Bay in London this week. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)