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The call came in at 11:11 a.m. Central time Tuesday. Lawrence Tynes recognized the name flashing on his screen and then the voice coming through the phone speaker. His buddy, Robbie Gould, was on the line and this kicker wanted to pick the brain of the former kicker who once had a moment everyone who ever kicked a football dreams of having. 

“Mainly mental preparation,’’ Tynes told The Post on Sunday of what Gould wanted to glean from him. 

Whatever Tynes imparted hit home, as Gould connected on a 45-yard field goal as time expired Saturday at frigid Lambeau Field as the 49ers eliminated Aaron Rodgers and the Packers 13-10. 

It was 14 years ago that Tynes, also in arctic Green Bay, sent the Giants to the Super Bowl with a 47-yard field goal in overtime to beat the Packers 23-20 in what was dubbed Ice Bowl II. Tynes is the only kicker in NFL history with two playoff game-winning overtime field goals. Four years after he nailed his career-defining kick, he drilled a 31-yarder in San Francisco in the NFC title game to eliminate the 49ers and put the Giants into Super Bowl XLVI. 


  Robbie Gould kicks the 49ers’ game-winning field goal. Getty Images Robbie Gould kicks the 49ers’ game-winning field goal. Getty Images

The wind-chill was minus-24 when Tynes, now 43, sent his kick soaring through the Wisconsin night. The wind-chill was zero degrees when Gould, 39, won it for the Niners. 

Gould spent the first 11 years of his NFL career with the Bears and one season, in 2016, with the Giants and he knows all about kicking in cold weather. But he sought any piece of advice Tynes could offer. Gould also reached out to former Vikings kicker Greg Joseph. 

“I really just said ‘Look, if I could go back to that day and redo it all, the only thing I would change was my preparation in the pregame,’ ’’ Tynes said. “It was a lot of unknown, it was so cold, [holder] Jeff [Feagles] couldn’t catch snaps, so here I am with a little anxiety thinking I’m unprepared. 

“I should have gone out there and hit more balls with just the tee. Let Jeff catch two or three on each side, feel confident and then I can take my little holder and work my way back and see my distances. I didn’t do that and that was one thing I passed onto Robbie, make sure your snapper and holder feel really good about your operation and you feel good about the operation.’’ 

Indeed, there is a video of Gould practicing his kicks before the game, even as the Packers are lining up for player introductions. 

In a conversation that lasted 24 minutes, the last thing Tynes said to Gould was “Just hit a good ball.’’ 


  Lawrence Tynes’ game-winning kick in the 2007 NFC Championship game. Sporting News via Getty Images Lawrence Tynes’ game-winning kick in the 2007 NFC Championship game. Sporting News via Getty Images

With the game tied at 10 and the 49ers driving, Tynes said he started feeling nervous, antsy, putting himself in Gould’s cleats. He started yelling at the television when the camera followed Gould on the sideline to warm his helmet. “Let him do his thing!’’ Tynes shouted from his home in Kansas City. 

Tynes and former NFL kickers David Akers and Shayne Graham were on a text chain together, messaging each other, all sweating through these anxious moments. 

The field looked “mushy,’’ Tynes thought to himself, and he was worried about that. Then he remembered why Gould, in Tynes’ view, is one of the top five kickers in NFL history and deserving of the Hall of Fame. 

“If you notice Robbie, compared with most kickers, he’s really tight to the football,’’ Tynes said. “He’s really compact, he’s got a really short approach. He’s had that his whole career and that’s why he’s such a good ball-striker and why he was able to have success in Chicago and why he’s able to have success in bad conditions.’’ 


  Robbie Gould celebrates with teammates. Getty Images Robbie Gould celebrates with teammates. Getty Images

As the 49ers moved into position, one final thought crossed Tynes’ mind. 

“I was thinking I’d love for Robbie to make a game-winner here, but just not break my 47-yard record,’’ Tynes said, laughing. “I’m still a competitor. At 45 I was like ‘OK, good.’ ’’ 

As Gould lined up for the crucial kick, Tynes did what he always does when his friend is about to strike the ball. He stood up and started pacing, moving closer and closer to the TV screen and then burst into celebration. After the game-winner, Gould quickly shot Tynes a text of appreciation and was so excited he incorrectly noted that his kick was toward the same end zone as Tynes’ 14 years earlier. 

“You feel a little bit like you helped him and that’s good, it makes me feel good, whether it helped or not,’’ Tynes said. “Just him reaching out meant the world to me.’’

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