You'll always appraise for double in my book, Robbie

Nearly lost among all the other stories from yesterday's Bears loss to the Patriots was perhaps the biggest one of them all. When the Patriots partially blocked a first-half Bears field goal attempt, it ended kicker Robbie Gould's streak of 27 consecutive made field goals (leaving Gould fifteen short of the consecutive field goal record), and perhaps more importantly, it marked the last opportunity for me to empty and/or recycle my bag of Gould/gold puns.

So allow me to express my sincerest congratulations to one solid-Gould player for a streak that shined, shimmered, and glimmered through nearly a season's worth of games. Although some less-than-solid-Gould blocking by the field goal unit caused the streak to bronze (or tarnish or whatever the hell gold does) before Robbie could create a new Gould record, Bears fans will never forget the heart of Gould that Robbie showed throughout these last fifteen games. Diamonds may be forever, but Gould is eternal.

Robbie can also take solace knowing that his index has soared throughout this streak and that Gould is now the standard for great NFL kicking. And although the Bears will undoubtedly try to hoard him for themselves come next negotiation period, NFL general managers everywhere will rush to Gould with pans in grasp, prospecting for his services, hoping to scoop him from among the silt of the NFL kicking talent pool.

The streak may be over now, but not soon will it be forgotten. To paraphrase Kenny Banya, you're Gould, Robbie. Gould!

(And I've killed it. Dead as dead can be.)