Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
Who is the fastest player on the Bears roster?
Edward P.
Ohio
There's usually a playful debate among players about who's the fastest individual on a team, but that's not the case with the Bears. When speedy receiver Darnell Mooney was asked that question recently, he responded immediately: Marquise Goodwin. Goodwin competed in the 2012 Olympic Games in the long jump, but he also has experience as a sprinter. In high school, he was part of a state championship 4 X 100-meter relay team. Goodwin ran a blazing 4.27 in the 40 at the Combine in 2013, which is tied for the fifth-fastest time in the history of the Combine.
With Bears linebacker Robert Quinn's sister, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, winning an Olympic gold medal in the women's 100-meter hurdles Sunday night, take a look at other current and former members of the organization who have ties to or competed in the Olympic Games.
Robert Quinn
Quinn's sister, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, won gold in the women's 100-meter hurdles at the Tokyo Games. She set an Olympic record time in the process and became just the second athlete to win a gold medal while representing Puerto Rico in the Olympics.
Marquise Goodwin
The speedy receiver represented the United States at the 2012 Summer Games as a long jumper. He competed in the event at the Olympic Trials this summer but did not qualify for the Tokyo Games.
Walter Payton
The Hall of Fame running back never competed in the Olympics, but he did carry the Olympic torch through Chicago on May 24, 1984 ahead of that summer's Games in Los Angeles. Before receiving the torch, Payton quipped: "I'd just like to say I hope I don't drop it."
Jenn Gibson
The Bears' sports science coordinator and dietician spent time as a senior sport dietician and applied physiologist with the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, working primarily with combat athletes, before coming to Chicago in 2015.
Willie Gault
The Super Bowl champion receiver, who set SEC track and field championships records while at the University of Tennessee, qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team and would have participated in the Summer Games in Moscow had the United States not boycotted the event.
Mitch Unrein
The former defensive lineman's wife, Corey Cogdell-Unrein, won bronze medals in women's trap shooting at the 2008 and 2016 Summer Games. She also competed in the 2012 Summer Games in London.
Jack Torrance
Torrance spent 15 games at tackle with the Bears from 1939-40. Before his time in the NFL, he broke the world record in shot put multiple times in 1934 before competing in the event at the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin, where he placed fifth.
Clyde Emrich
The Bears' long-time strength and conditioning coach, whom the weight room at Halas Hall was named after, competed in the 1952 Summer Games in Helsinki as a weightlifter, placing eighth.
Lawrence Okoye
Okoye has represented Great Britain in the discus event at the 2012 and 2020 Summer Games. He spent time on the Bears' practice squad during the 2016 season.
Bob Pickens
Pickens, an Evanston native who played linebacker for the Bears from 1967-69, represented the United States as a wrestler during the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo.
John Capel
Capel was selected in the 7th round (208th overall) by the Bears in the 2001 NFL Draft. Following his time in the NFL, he won the 200-meter race at the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials before finishing eighth in the event at the Summer Games in Sydney.
How are the Bears splitting reps at quarterback in training camp? I'm sure they want to get Andy Dalton ready for the season but also are trying to develop Justin Fields.
Scott L.
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Bears coach Matt Nagy recently said that while it may appear that Andy Dalton and Justin Fields are splitting reps equally, "Andy's getting slightly a few more. It's not equivalent. There might be some periods where you see [Dalton] got four and [Fields] got four, but all of a sudden [Dalton] got five and [Fields] got four. They add up, so that's how that goes."
Who's playing safety behind Eddie Jackson?
Jarel H.
Florence, South Carolina
The Bears' most experienced backup safeties are Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson, both of whom were part of the team's 2016 draft class and are entering their sixth NFL seasons. Both have proven in past seasons that they're more than capable of stepping in on defense and making impact plays. Last season Bush generated his first career interception in a win over the Giants, while Houston-Carson preserved back-to-back victories with late impact plays, breaking up a Tom Brady fourth-down pass against the Buccaneers and intercepting a Teddy Bridgewater throw versus the Panthers. To this point, Bush has produced what I consider the best defensive play so far in training camp. He made a great break on the ball and intercepted a pass intended for tight end Cole Kmet. Veteran safeties Jordan Lucas and Marqui Christian are also competing for playing time in training camp and no doubt will also get opportunities to impress in preseason games. The depth at safety is important given that Eddie Jackson remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and fellow starter Tashaun Gipson Sr. tweaked his groin while warming up Monday.
Chalk Talk features fan questions multiple times each week. Email your question to Larry.
