Chicago Bears Sign Kicker Jay Feely, Waive Chris Williams

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears signed kicker Jay Feely a day after Robbie Gould showed up on the injury report with a quad injury. Feely tweeted the news:

Honored to sign with the Bears this morning.
I grew up watching and cheering for Walter Payton and had a signed picture of him on my wall.
— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) December 3, 2014

The Bears had been giving punter Pat O’Donnell reps kicking in practice on Tuesday in preparation for their Thursday night game against the Dallas Cowboys but obviously didn’t feel confident the rookie could handle the double duty . While Gould is officially listed as Doubtful for the game, the signing indicates that Gould is not going to go against the Cowboys. To make room for Feely the Bears waived/injured kick returner Chris Williams. Williams struggled all season with kick returning duties until he was relieved by veteran Marc Mariani.

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Jay Feely has been around the block a few times. Feely entered the NFL in 2001 with the Atlanta Falcons and spent four season with the Falcons. Feely spent a couple of seasons with the New York Giants from 2005-2006 before stints with the Dolphins (2007) and Jets (2008-2009). Feely settled into a role with the Arizona Cardinals from 2010 – 2013. He was cut by the Cardinals in the 2014 preseason as Chandler Catanzaro beat him out.

Feely is a career .827 field goal kicker. He’s made 329 field goals out of 398 attempts and converted a career long 61 yarder. Feely has scored 1431 points over his 13 year NFL career.

While with the Giants in 2005, Feely missed three potential game wining field goals in an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday Night Live immortalized Feely with a sketch called the Jay Feely Story:

Feely’s signature has become wearing gloves, an odd move for a kicker who doesn’t handle the ball and for the last few years played in the climate controlled comfort of the University of Phoenix Stadium. Feely explained that you never know when you may be called upon to do more than just kick:

"“If you have the fake and you want gloves on to handle the ball, you don’t want to tip them off by putting them on. It’s for tackles as well as onside kicks, and it looks kind of cool, too.”"

Temperatures are supposed to be in the 30’s at Soldier Field on Thursday night, so the gloves will be put to good use at least to keep Feely’s hands warm. Fear not, Bears fans, the season is saved now that Jay Feely has arrived!

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BEAR DOWN!!!