LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- When the Bears began their search for a kicker this past offseason, they did so with a specific goal in mind.
The Bears were seeking long-term stability at kicker, and they believe it's there with 23-year-old Eddy Pineiro, whom they named to that position this week.
"The hope all along, the optimism all along, is to hit on a young kicker that we can grow and develop," general manager Ryan Pace said. "And we feel like we've done that. We're very confident in him."
Pace on Monday spoke to reporters in a group setting for the first time in more than a month. He did so two days after the the team set its initial 53-man roster and a day after the circulation of waivers. Specifically to the kicking situation, Sunday saw the Bears decline to add a potential alternative to Pineiro, whether that was due to their 24th-place standing in the waiver order or a firm belief in Pineiro.
The Bears positioned Pineiro to become their kicker two weeks ago, when they waived his training camp competition, 24-year-old Elliott Fry. Pineiro converted 8-of-9 field-goal attempts this preseason, including a 58-yarder against the Colts on Aug. 24.
When the Vikings waived kicker Kaare Vedvik -- whom the Bears had attempted to acquire by trade with the Ravens in August -- it offered a potential option instead of Pineiro. But the Jets claimed Vedvik with their No. 3 spot in the waiver order and took him out of play for the Bears.
Pineiro was acquired by the Bears on May 7 in a trade with the Raiders that sent a 2021 conditional seventh-round pick to Oakland. He joined the organization more than three months into an exhaustive search for a Cody Parkey replacement that began in late January, when the Bears signed Redford Jones after a tryout.
In early May, the Bears employed four kickers on their roster -- Fry, Jones, Chris Blewitt and John Baron II. They held workouts for several others before ultimately pairing Pineiro and Fry as competitors.
The Bears are confident in Pineiro's abilities, but they also understand patience is necessary -- like with any other young player.
"If you look at a lot of good kickers around the league, you'll see ebbs and flows," Pace said. "Especially, sometimes, early in their careers. Not that that's our expectation. But we also understand sometimes you have to have patience at this position. He's got the right demeanor. He's got the right leg talent. The team has really embraced him. We're happy with the way that whole process played out."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
