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Gould inks long-term deal with 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Kicker Robbie Gould signed a four-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday instead of playing this season on the franchise tag.

The 49ers had placed the tag on Gould in February for a price tag of about $5 million and faced a Monday deadline to sign him to a long-term deal. ESPN reported that Gould received a deal worth $19 million with a fully guaranteed $10.5 million in the first two years.

Gould had stayed away from the team during the offseason program and requested a trade back to Chicago, where he started his career and where his family still lives.

“Over the years, Robbie has established himself as one of the best at his position in the NFL, which is precisely why we were so committed to working out a new contract with him,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said. “I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this deal come to fruition. We are very happy to start off the year on the right foot with this agreement in place so that Robbie can get back with his teammates and focus on making the most out of the upcoming season.”

The Bears had been hoping to bring back the NFL’s most accurate kicker over his two seasons with San Francisco. Chicago released kicker Cody Parkey after he missed a field goal off the left upright and crossbar in the closing seconds of a 16-15 wild-card loss to Philadelphia at home in January, and has struggled to find a replacement.

Gould, 36, was at the game with his family, which remained in the Chicago area even after the Bears released him following the 2015 season. But the 49ers didn’t want to part ways with one of their most reliable players and reached a long-term deal.

In two seasons with San Francisco, Gould has made 72 of 75 field go­al attempts and 55 of 59 extra points. He leads the NFL in made field goals and field goal percentage over that span.

Gould has made 87.7 percent of his field goal attempts over his 14-year career, ranking second to Baltimore’s Justin Tucker for the best in NFL history among kickers with at least 100 made field goals. Gould missed only one of 33 field goal tries last season when he set a 49ers record for single-season accuracy.

Gould converted more than 85 percent of his field goals and missed just four of his 383 extra points as a member of the Bears from 2005-15. He amassed 1,207 points before general manager Ryan Pace and former coach John Fox let him go just before the start of the 2016 season.

In the three years since, he has combined to make 82 of 85 field goals for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. Chicago kickers, by comparison, are 57 of 75 in that span.

Boling retires

CINCINNATI — Bengals left guard Clint Boling retired Monday after eight seasons in the NFL, citing medical concerns. The club posted that he has been dealing with a blood clot.

Boling was the Bengals’ most dependable offensive lineman, playing every snap last season. He started all 16 games five times during his career, including each of the last two. Boling was a fourth-round pick in 2011.

His retirement is another setback to a line in flux. The Bengals drafted left tackle Jonah Williams with the 11th overall pick, but he suffered a shoulder injury during a workout, requiring surgery that will sideline him for the season. The Bengals signed guard John Miller from Buffalo in the offseason and drafted guard Michael Jordan from Ohio State.

Morgan finished

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee defensive lineman Derrick Morgan says he’s retiring after playing nine NFL seasons for five head coaches.

Morgan announced his decision Monday on social media and with a post on The Players’ Tribune website. He wrote that he had a strong indication 2018 would be his final season and that he always wanted to leave the game on his own terms. Morgan says he is thankful to say he accomplished both goals.

The 16th pick overall out of Georgia Tech in 2010, Morgan spent his entire career with Tennessee.

Smith sheds brace

ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith has finally shed the massive brace on his right leg eight months after breaking his tibia and fibula in gruesome fashion.

Smith’s wife, Elizabeth, posted a photo Monday of him holding the ring external fixator in his hand. The team’s Twitter account re-posted that picture with the message, “The brace is off! A great step for Alex in his recovery.”

Given the severity of the injury, it’s unlikely Smith plays this season and Washington selected QB Dwayne Haskins in the first round. Smith recently said he plans to play in the NFL again and is under contract through 2022.

Moore suspended

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants suspended safety Kam Moore on Monday amid charges he punched a woman, stepped on her neck and rendered her unconscious.

The alleged incident took place Thursday. Moore appeared in state Superior Court in Union County on Monday to face charges of third-degree aggravated assault.

According to a criminal complaint, the unidentified woman, who told authorities she had been dating Moore since January, stopped by his home in Linden late Thursday.

When she arrived, another woman came out of Moore’s home and the two women began to fight, according to the complaint. When the first woman fell to the ground, the complaint said, Moore stepped on her neck. When she eventually stood up, he allegedly punched her in the face, knocking her unconscious.

Raiders sign guard

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders have signed free agent guard Jonathan Cooper.

The team made the move Monday to add a veteran guard after news last week that projected starter Richie Incognito will be suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

Cooper was a first-round pick by Arizona in 2013.

Falcons extend Jarrett

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett on a four-year extension before the NFL deadline for franchise-tagged players.

The Falcons had until 4 p.m. Monday to finalize a multi-year deal with Jarrett, and general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement that the Falcons made clear since last season ended that a new contract for Jarrett has been a priority.

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