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'm surprised the Bears signed two more quarterbacks this week (which now gives them five). Do you think that Pat Devlin and Shane Carden will challenge Jimmy Clausen for the No. 2 job?
Pat S.
Helena, Montana
We'll have to wait to see how the reps are divided in offseason workouts, but I think it's more likely that Pat Devlin and Shane Carden will challenge David Fales for the third spot on the depth chart. The Bears seem to be high on Jimmy Clausen as the backup moving forward. As a rookie he played for John Fox with the Panthers in 2008 and has shown improvement and maturity from that point forward. I know the new coaches liked what they saw on tape of Clausen last year when he started in place of Jay Cutler in a late-season game against the Lions and threw two touchdown passes. Here's what first-year offensive coordinator Adam Gase recently said when he was asked why the Bears wanted to re-sign Clausen and bring him back as the No. 2 quarterback: "He's really grown as a player. And what we're trying to put together right now, he was a great fit for that room; him and Jay have a great relationship. I felt like he'd be perfect for what we were trying to do offensively."
It doesn't seem like a lot of the Bears players who became free agents in March have found new homes. How many of them have signed NFL contracts?
Roger L.
Long Grove, Illinois
By my count, seven of the 18 Bears players from last season who became unrestricted free agents are now under contract. Four of them re-signed with Chicago: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen, cornerback Sherrick McManis, and tight ends Zach Miller and Dante Rosario. Three joined new teams: Safety Chris Conte (Buccaneers), defensive tackle Stephen Paea (Redskins) and cornerback Charles Tillman (Panthers). The 11 who remain unsigned are linebacker Lance Briggs, tackle Eben Britton, long-snapper Jeremy Cain, center Brian de la Puente, kicker Jay Feely, safety Danny McCray, receiver Josh Morgan, fullback Montell Owens, defensive end Trevor Scott, linebacker Darryl Sharpton and linebacker D.J. Williams.
How many Bears players have worn No. 13 before first-round pick Kevin White?
Pete F.
Elmhurst, Illinois
Rookie receiver Kevin White will be the 12th player in Bears history to wear No. 13. The list includes two Hall of Famers in center George Trafton (1920-32) and tackle Joe Stydahar (1936-46), who was the first draft pick in franchise history. The others are end Guy Chamberlin (1920-21), guard Monte Merkel (1942-43), tackle Jake Sweeney (1944), guard Frank Ramsey (1945), quarterback Bob Snyder (1945), center Thurman Garrett (1947-48), end Jack Dugger (1949), quarterback Rick Mirer (1997) and receiver Johnny Knox (2009-12).