No, 49ers shouldn't overreact and sign Robbie Gould amid Jake Moody issues

The San Francisco 49ers are 5-1, the undefeated streak ending after kicker Jake Moody missed wide right. Still, this isn't cause to panic.
NFC Divisional Playoffs - Dallas Cowboys v San Francisco 49ers
NFC Divisional Playoffs - Dallas Cowboys v San Francisco 49ers / Michael Zagaris/GettyImages
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The 49ers are one missed field goal away from 6-0, but that doesn't mean the fans should be turning on rookie kicker Jake Moody. It's time to take a deep breath.

While a loss is never fun, it's time to address the public hysteria over rookie kicker Jake Moody and the call for the San Francisco 49ers to get on the phone with their former kicker and current free agent, Robbie Gould.

Yes, Moody missed a game-winning field goal. It was wet and he's a rookie kicker. When you're breaking in a rookie kicker, these unfortunate things are bound to happen, and it's not a good thing to be heading for the "break glass in case of emergency" display.

Read More: 49ers game grades from disappointing, mistake-filled loss to Browns


It's very distressing to see 49ers fans jump off Moody so quickly after being literally perfect for the first five weeks. Nobody likes to lose, and the curse of the kicker is nobody notices when you do your job, but everyone notices when you don't.

But a kick in the clutch on a wet and windy day isn't cause to get off the bandwagon.

Yes, in the NFL, you have to make difficult kicks. But you're also entitled to have a little difficulty as well as a rookie. When you play rookies, mistakes are bound to happen.

Nobody will feel as bad as Moody for having missed the kick. The team is rallying around him, and the fans should be expected to do nothing less.

I'll back him in for Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings next week. He'll go perfect through the game, and he'll get his mojo back.

But, for those calling for his job to be over after one missed kick should perhaps realize that second chances are part of everything. Moody doesn't deserve to lose his job over one kick, and those calling for such look foolish for trying.

It's no disrespect to Gould, a longtime veteran who's been one of the best kickers in 49ers history. If Moody gets injured, his name could very well be called.

But this is a new era, and it's important to know that this is Moody's era.

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