Browns Special Teams Coach Chris Tabor Denies Team Passed on Signing Kicker Robbie Gould

From blocked extra points costing the Browns two points, to missing game winning field goals, the Browns kicking game has been nothing short of a mess the first three weeks of 2016.

The team has already lost one kicker in Patrick Murray, who suffered a knee injury and went on IR, and the team late last week brought in Cody Parkey to take his place.

We all know the end result of Parkey’s first game with the Browns, a nightmare afternoon in Miami in which he missed three field goals, the last missed 46-yard attempt on the final play of regulation would have won the game.

Then there was the report the team was divided about what kicker to ink, and a report in the Miami Herald said that money was a deciding factor in bringing in Parkey over former Bears kicker Robbie Gould, which the Browns denied.

Today Browns special teams coach Chris Tabor said the team was never going to bring Gould in, and responded when asked if he was disappointed the team didn’t ink the former Bears kicker and Chicago’s all-time leading scorer.

“Not true. No, there is not truth to that,” Tabor said.

“There are a lot of good football players out there. There is no doubt about it. Our scouting department does an outstanding job. When we visit with our scouts and our front office, we decide on a player.

“We have a really good young player who has been to a Pro Bowl, gets great lift on the ball, bangs touchbacks and can place the ball directionally. He is good. I heard about the reports. I don’t think anything of them. I have moved onto Washington and am excited to watch our guy, the guy that is here perform for us at a winning level.”

The 34-year-old Gould kicked for 11 seasons for the Bears, with an 85.4 percent accuracy on field goals. Parkey, who is just 24, played two years for the Eagles, hitting on 38-of-46 field goals.

Tabor says he’s pumped to see how the young kicker responds after a good week of practice in Washington this week against the Redskins.

“I am excited for him to go into this game and have a lot of confidence in him,” Tabor.

“To be honest with you, selfishly, I hope the game comes down to a game-winning field goal because I believe when we trot him out there that he will make it. I really do. He has had a great week of practice.”