Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of email questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
With the Bears adding Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, I think Jay Cutler could have the best year of his career. Who holds single-season passing records and do you think Cutler will break them?
Steve A.
Streamwood, Illinois
Erik Kramer set single-season Bears records in 1995 with 315 completions, 522 attempts and 3,838 yards. Jay Cutler broke two of those marks in 2009 with 336 completions and 555 attempts while falling 172 yards short of the yardage record. I think Cutler very well could break that mark this season as long as he stays healthy, but I know that winning is far more important to him than his own personal statistics. I'm sure he'd much rather pass for 200 yards a game and hand the ball off throughout the entire fourth quarter if it means protecting a lead and registering another victory. When Kramer rewrote the record book in 1995, he did so with a team that struggled on defense and had to win shootouts. The Bears lost games that season by scores of 27-24, 34-28, 37-34 and 35-28.
I was a Gabe Carimi fan at Wisconsin and am hoping for big things from him. Do you think the knee injury he suffered last year will limit him in training camp or the preseason?
Phil W.
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Anything can happen when the pads come on in camp, but I don't think Gabe Carimi's knee will be an issue in training camp. He returned from the injury during the offseason program and looked good. I know that offensive coordinator Mike Tice has high expectations for Carimi, telling me that he feels Carimi is "going to be a better player than he was at any point last year, and I thought he was our best [offensive lineman] when he got hurt."
Who holds the Bears record for most interceptions in a season?
David F.
Huntley, Illinois
Mark Carrier set the Bears record with 10 interceptions as a rookie in 1990. No one has recorded more than seven picks since then except for Nathan Vasher, who had eight in 2005. D.J. Moore led the Bears with four interceptions last season.
