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.
Is there a possibility the Bears acquire Tony Romo?
Jonathan R.
Stranger things have happened, but I'd be very surprised to see Tony Romo in a Bears uniform this year. It seems like a slam dunk that the Cowboys are going to unload him because he would count $24.7 million against their salary cap if he stayed and Dallas is committed to Dak Prescott as the team's starting quarterback. Any team that would trade for Romo, who turns 37 in April, would have to surrender a draft pick or two while inheriting a contract that will pay him $14 million this year. The most likely scenario, in my opinion, is that the Cowboys wait until June 1 to release so they can spread a $19.7 million salary cap hit over two years. If that occurs, he'd be free to sign with any team and it's believed that he wants to join a Super Bowl contender. If I had to guess, I'll predict that Romo somehow some way ends up with the Broncos.
With all the talk about acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo via trade from the Patriots it made me think. Has any team ever won the Super Bowl with a quarterback they acquired via a trade?
Ryan W.
Dalton, Massachusetts
Two of the most prominent examples are Steve Young, who won a Super Bowl with the 49ers after being acquired from the Buccaneers; and Brett Favre, who won with the Packers after being dealt from the Falcons. The Broncos' John Elway and the Giants' Eli Manning both won Super Bowls after being involved in draft-day trades, so that's a little different. But several other quarterbacks have won Super Bowls after leaving their original NFL teams. They include the Raiders' Jim Plunkett, the Saints' Drew Brees, the Broncos' Peyton Manning, the Buccaneers' Brad Johnson, the Redskins' Doug Williams and the Ravens' Trent Dilfer.
Did the Bears play all of the players they drafted in 2016?
Joe O.
Yes, all nine players the Bears drafted last year suited up during the regular season, combining to play 100 games with 54 starts. Second-round center Cody Whitehair (15 games-15 starts) and fifth-round running back Jordan Howard (15-13) saw the most action, followed by fourth-round linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (14-7), third-round defensive end Jonathan Bullard (14-1), first-round outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (12-12), fourth-round safety Deon Bush (11-6), fourth-round cornerback Deiondre' Hall (8-0), sixth-round safety DeAndre Houston-Carson (8-0) and seventh-round receiver Daniel Braverman (3-0).
