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.
How has Vic Fangio's defense done over the years against Vikings running back Adrian Peterson?
Tom H.
Alton, Illinois
Since Adrian Peterson entered the NFL in 2007, he has only faced Vic Fangio-coached teams twice. When Fangio was a defensive assistant with the Ravens in 2009, Peterson led the Vikings to a 33-31 win over Baltimore by rushing for 143 yards on 22 carries. Then when Fangio was defensive coordinator with the 49ers in 2012, San Francisco limited Peterson to 86 yards on 25 carries but still lost to the Vikings 24-13 in Minnesota.
It seems to me that Jay Cutler has had a lot of success during his career versus the Minnesota Vikings. Do the stats bear that out?
Ryan B.
Winfield, Illinois
Entering Sunday's game at Soldier Field, Jay Cutler has compiled an 8-3 record as a starter against the Vikings, completing 65.5 percent of his passes for 2,606 yards with 23 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 91.5 passer rating. The eight wins and 23 TDs are his most against any NFL team, but so are his 13 picks. In addition, Cutler has thrown for more career yards in 13 games against the Lions (3,022) and 12 contests versus the Packers (2,681).
I was watching some old NFL games recently, mainly from the 1980s and I was impressed with the number of kickers who kicked barefoot. Have the Bears ever had a barefoot kicker and who was the last barefoot kicker in the league?
Nick B.
Wellington, New Zealand
I don't recall the Bears ever having a barefoot kicker. The two main ones I remember in the NFL were Tony Franklin, who played for the Eagles (1979-83), Patriots (1984-87) and Dolphins (1988); and Rich Karlis, who kicked for the Broncos (1982-88), Vikings (1989) and Lions (1990). As far as I know, Karlis was the last of the full-time barefoot kickers in the NFL.
