Chicago Bears Must Put An End To An Era Once And For All

The Chicago Bears have remained loyal to Cairo Santos for a long time. He has earned it in many ways. His steady accuracy has gotten them through some tough moments in recent years. However, there has always been an undercurrent of frustration surrounding the veteran kicker. It has to do with his distance. Time has shown that Santos has a limited range, almost never connecting on kicks of 55 yards or more. In today's NFL, with kickers now routinely topping 60 yards, that is a significant issue for the Bears.

Sunday was the latest example. He had a chance to pull the Bears within one when they trailed 10-6 in the 2nd quarter. They sent him out for a 58-yard attempt. Conditions were perfect. No rain. No wind. The kick still came up short. From there, Baltimore seemed to gain momentum and never let Chicago back into the game. That miss came after fans had watched Jake Moody showcase considerable leg strength in the two previous games. It has led to the question that many can't help but ask.

Why are the Bears continuing to hamstring themselves?

The Chicago Bears cannot continue this much longer.

Kicking has entered a new era. It shouldn't be difficult to find somebody who can regularly connect between 55 and 60 anymore. Santos' accuracy is nice, but it's no longer enough. The Chicago Bears need somebody who doesn't require getting drives to the 35-yard line every week. It makes life so much more difficult for a young offense. Head coach Ben Johnson has said Santos is the kicker. There is no controversy. Could that change after watching another long attempt come so feebly short?

It probably should. Santos is a good player and has been a reliable presence in Chicago after the Cody Parkey fiasco. Still, there comes a time when you have to think about trying to get better. The Bears are reaching that crossroads with him.