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.
How close is Cairo Santos to setting the NFL record for most consecutive field goals made?
Aaron P.
North Carolina
Cairo Santos established a Bears record by connecting on his final 27 field-goal attempts last season, but he's still a considerable distance from the NFL record of 44 straight field goals that Adam Vinatieri made in 2015-16 with the Indianapolis Colts. So Santos will have to make his first 17 field-goal tries to tie the record and 18 straight to eclipse it.
The recent “Dynamic Duos” question in Chalk Talk got me to thinking about another dynamic duo: Receivers Curtis Conway and Jeff Graham, who both surpassed 1,000 yards in 1995. Has any other Bears receiving duo both had more than 1,000 yards in a season?
Eric H.
Hong Kong
You are correct about Curtis Conway and Jeff Graham being a dynamic duo. In 1995, Graham caught 82 passes for 1,301 yards and four touchdowns, while Conway added 62 receptions for 1,037 yards and 12 TDs. That was also the year that Erik Kramer set the Bears' single-season passing records with 3,838 yards and 29 touchdowns. The only other time that two Bears receivers both surpassed 1,000 yards was in 2013 when Alshon Jeffery had 89 receptions for 1,421 yards and seven TDs and Brandon Marshall caught 100 passes for 1,295 yards and 12 TDs.
I recently watched a couple seasons of "The Pretender," a TV series from the late 1990s. While he didn't have many lines, Willie Gault appeared in a number of episodes. Has he appeared in other TV shows or films?
Dave T.
Glastonbury, Connecticut
Former Bears receiver Willie Gault has appeared on several TV shows, series and movies since he retired from the NFL in the late 1980s. He's had recurring roles on "The Pretender" from 1997-2000 as you mentioned as well as on "The West Wing" as a secret service agent from 2000-04 and on "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" as a sportscaster from 2004-07. Gault has also appeared on "Tales from the Crypt," "In the Heat of the Night," "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," "Baywatch," and "The Steve Harvey Show," among others. He most recently was on the TV series "Family Reunion" this year.
Chalk Talk features fan questions multiple times each week. Email your question to Larry.
