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.
What an incredible kick by the Ravens' Justin Tucker to help put the Bears in first place. It made me wonder if any Bears kicker has made a 61-yarder or even kicked six field goals in a game.
Paul T.
Woodstock, Illinois
No Bears kicker has ever accomplished either feat. Robbie Gould holds the franchise record for the longest field goal with a 58-yarder in this year's 24-21 season-opening win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The team mark for field goals in a game is five set by Roger Leclerc on Dec. 3, 1961 in a 16-15 loss to the Lions at Wrigley Field and matched by Mac Percival on Oct. 20, 1968 in a 29-16 win over the Eagles in Philadelphia. Gould has made four field goals in a game on seven occasions, most recently on Dec. 20, 2010 in a 40-14 victory over the Vikings in Minnesota.
Did the officials neglect to access Devin Hester's offside penalty on a Browns extra point on the ensuing kickoff Sunday in Cleveland? Hester had a solid return on the play.
Dominick L.
Schaumburg, Illinois
The officials did access the five-yard penalty, enabling the Browns to kick off from their own 40. I'm not sure whether Billy Cundiff hit a squib kickoff on purpose because the Browns were kicking into the wind or he didn't hit the ball right, but it bounced to Devin Hester, who responded with a 40-yard return that might have been his best of the season in terms of eluding tackles and making something out of nothing.
I noticed several times after Devin Hester did not catch a punt that Bears players surrounded the ball even though many Browns players were there as well. I'm sure they are taught to get away, but it seems they did the opposite Sunday.
Phil M.
Florida
There's actually a rule that allows the punt return team to advance the ball without consequence after the kicking team touches it but doesn't down it. So that's why you saw Bears players around the ball, looking for an opportunity to gain a few additional yards. Had the Browns touched the ball without downing it, the Bears could have picked it up and not lost possession even if they had fumbled it away. Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis calls that the "no consequence" rule.
