On Monday, 49ers General Manager John Lynch told reporters that Robbie Gould will be the team’s kicker this year.
On Tuesday, Gould reportedly told Lynch and the 49ers that he’d prefer that someone else do the kicking.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Gould has requested a trade away from the team. The franchise-tagged Gould also reportedly told the team that he will no longer take part in negotiations for a long-term deal and wants to be closer to his family in Chicago.
“The bottom line is, I’m unsure if I want to play there anymore,” Gould said. “At this point, I have to do what’s best for me and my family back home.”
Lynch’s comments came in response to questions about the team’s interest in Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski before Gostkowski re-signed with New England this month. Lynch termed the team’s interest as “due diligence” and said that Gould “is going to be a part of us this coming year.”
Gould’s agent said the kicker is “unsure when or if he will report” to the 49ers at all if they don’t agree to his trade demand, so it does seem that his presence on the 49ers roster is far less certain than Lynch indicated in his press conference.
