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.
Have the Bears selected their team captains yet?
David K.
Provo, Utah
The Bears are not going to have permanent captains this season. They're going to choose them every week, and the players who were selected for Week 1 are quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (offense), defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (defense) and Benny Cunningham (special teams). Coach Matt Nagy said that it's the same thing the Chiefs did when he served as an assistant coach, and that players and coaches will both have input in picking the weekly captains.
How much do you think that playing with a club on his broken hand will affect Leonard Floyd?
Dave S.
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Leonard Floyd downplayed it when talking to reporters, saying that he wore a club on his hand at Georgia and it really wouldn't be that much of a difference. But defensive coordinator Vic Fangio acknowledged that it will require an adjustment, saying: "It's difficult. When you have no use of one of your hands, football is hard enough to play and to protect yourself. It creates a problem." Floyd will obviously have to wrap up when he's making a tackle and really focus on his fundamentals and technique to put him in the best possible position to make plays.
Have the Bears ever won a division title after finishing in last place the year before?
Fred A.
Barrington, Illinois
The last time the Bears went from "worst-to-first" was when they rebounded from a 5-11 record in 2004 in Lovie Smith's first season to win the NFC North in 2005 with an 11-5 mark. They could repeat history this year given that they finished in last place with a 5-11 record in John Fox's final season as coach last year. The Bears also went from worst-to-first in 2000-01 when they won the NFC Central with a 13-3 record in Dick Jauron's third season as coach after finishing last with a 5-11 mark the previous year.
