Robbie Gould is familiar with the offseason hype that tends to circulate in all 32 NFL cities.
The longest-tenured player on the Chicago Bears' roster, Gould has seen many of his Bears teams over 11 years begin the season as favorites to contend in the NFC North only to finish out of the playoffs. The Bears have missed the postseason a dismal eight times in the last nine years.
Year 2 under John Fox may be different, according to kicker Gould, who expressed serious optimism on Tuesday about the club’s chances to improve in 2016, even after running back Matt Forte and tight end Martellus Bennett departed in the offseason.