CHICAGO -- A day after criticizing the Soldier Field grounds crew for a "soft" field on Sunday night against the Houston Texans, Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould issued an apology through the team.

"I need to apologize to the grounds crew at Soldier Field and our grounds crew for my recent comments regarding the field," Gould said in a statement. "I have since learned a lot more about the NFL's policies and the measures that are taken at Soldier Field to ensure a reliable and safe playing surface. It was my mistake to speak prior to having a full understanding."

"For some reason this season, and I don't know whose job it is, and I love our guys in the Chicago Bears organization that takes care of our fields, but I want to know this year who decided to keep the field so soft that it's been tore up the entire year," Gould said Tuesday night on "Football Night in Chicago" on ESPN 1000. "Let's put it to you this way: If I were a grounds crew superintendent, I think I would keep a little bit of an eye if they were calling for rain for six straight days, and I just might roll a tarp out on the field before the game.

"I don't know, maybe that's common sense. Maybe that's too tough to get done. I'm just saying I would do it. I would do it."

Stadium

general manager Tim LeFevour told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday that the middle 40 yards of the field will be replaced with new sod on Friday.

"Those are ridiculous comments," LeFevour told the Tribune. "He doesn't know what he is talking about. The field has not been an issue all year, and we haven't heard anyone else complaining."

Soldier Field is owned and operated by the Chicago Park District, which has said it is open to the idea of switching to an artificial playing surface. However, the Bears continue to say they prefer a grass field.

Earlier Wednesday at Halas Hall, Gould didn't back down from his comments, and even suggested the field conditions might play a role in his re-signing with the Bears.

"Hopefully we can find a happy medium," Gould said. "If those are the conditions we have to play in, I'll just have to adjust. Obviously, those are the types of situations you look for in re-signing with teams. I have a year left on my contract, and I hope to stay a Bear. Those will be situations I take into (consideration). I don't know if I want to deal with that as I get older as a kicker.

"But at the same time I'd love to retire a Bear, and I'd love to be here. I got a year left before we start talking about things like that, but those are things that guys like myself and (in) my position think about."

One of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, Gould connected on 2 of 3 field goals in the wet and windy conditions against the Texans but missed a 48-yarder in the fourth quarter that would have made it a one-point game. For the season, Gould has hit 18 of 21 field goals, with all three misses coming at Soldier Field.