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.
I have heard that the safety the Seahawks recorded was the quickest score in Super Bowl history. But what about the Devin Hester opening kickoff return?
Andi A.
Germany
The safety the Seahawks registered in Super Bowl XLVIII when Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno recovered an errant shotgun snap in the end zone came with just :12 elapsed. Devin Hester's 92-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI took :14. Interestingly, Tony Franklin's 36-yard field goal against the Bears just 1:19 into Super Bowl XX had been the quickest score until Hester's TD return. After Franklin's kick had given the Patriots a 3-0 lead, the Bears scored 44 unanswered points en route to a 46-10 drubbing.
Do you anticipate the Bears' brass will kick the tires on recently released veteran cornerback Asante Samuel?
Joe P.
Flemington, New Jersey
I know that Bears general manager Phil Emery is extremely detailed and will consider all options at every position as he does throughout the year in terms of upgrading the roster. But given that Emery told reporters last month that the Bears intend to get younger on defense, I'd tend to think that the 33-year-old Asante Samuel would not be part of the plan. But of course we'll have to wait and see.
How many times did the Bears give up points on the first drive of the game after they had won the coin toss and opted to defer?
Paul W.
Bannockburn, Illinois
The Bears chose to defer seven out of the eight times they won the coin toss in 2013 and gave up points immediately in five of those seven contests. They allowed a touchdown on the opening kickoff against the Vikings and permitted two other TDs and two field goals on their opponents' opening possessions after deferring. It worked to their advantage twice, when they forced a punt against the Lions and Zack Bowman intercepted an Eli Manning pass on the third play from scrimmage versus the Giants. The only time the Bears won the toss and did not defer was late in the season in Philadelphia. But they went three-and-out and the Eagles followed by scoring a touchdown on their first possession.
