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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 every day on ChicagoBears.com.

I read somewhere that the Bears are bringing in 21 tryout players for rookie minicamp. It also said that last year they brought in 25 tryout players and none was offered a contract. When was the last time that a tryout player was offered a contract, or more importantly, made the final roster?

Eric B.
Rockford, Illinois

The Bears will actually have 31 players participating in this weekend’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. (I’ll list them all below.) None of the 25 tryout players was signed last year. In 2008, five of 28 tryout players were signed: RB Matthew Lawrence, P Zacrey Atterberry, DE Gerard Lee, G Ryan Poles and TE Marcus Stone. In 2007, three of 23 tryout players were signed: DT Tory Collins, TE Fontel Mines and S Andrew Shanle. None of the tryout players signed in 2007 and ’08 made the opening-day 53-man roster. The last tryout players I recall who not only earned roster spots but contributed for the Bears were safeties Brandon McGowan and Cameron Worrell.

Here’s a list of this year’s 31 tryout players: P Will Batson, P Desi Cullen, K Mike Salerno, QB Juice Williams, P Chase Turner, K Thomas Mante, WR Nick Merchut, WR Steven Turner, CB Raeshon McNeil, CB Wopamo Osaisai, S Cam Nelson, CB Roderick Rollins, RB Jake Sharp, S Justin Woodall, S Ryan McFoy, FB Shamar Graves, C Austin Steichen, LB Damaso Munoz, LS Andrew Pitz, LB Chris Johnson, LB Malcolm Arrington, G Dennis Conley, LB Blaze Soares, LS Tom Harrington, G Vince Vance, DT Averell Spicer, DT Kyle Harrington, DE Brian Coulter, WR Zeke Markshausen, TE Craig Carey and WR Justin Buckhalter.

The player who intrigues me the most in the Bears draft is seventh-round pick J’Marcus Webb. He reminds me of James “Big Cat” Williams. What are the realistic expectations of this kid making it to the starting lineup?

Bob
Terre Haute, Indiana

I met J’Marcus Webb on Thursday and he is absolutely huge. He’s listed at 6-8 and 338 pounds and is every bit of that. His coach at West Texas A&M, Don Carthel, told me last Saturday that Webb’s size 20 feet are the quickest (and biggest) of any player he’s worked with. Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice, who worked out Webb at his former high school, was impressed with the tackle’s athleticism and strength. In one drill, Tice was holding a blocking shield and  Webb hit Tice so hard that he chipped the coach’s tooth. Tice said that Webb had the best punch of the five prospects he personally worked out. It’s difficult to say whether Webb will eventually develop into an NFL starter at some point in the future, but the fact that he played as a true freshman at Texas is certainly an indication that he has talent. It’ll certainly be interesting to watch how he progresses during training camp and the preseason. As far as the comparison with James “Big Cat” Williams, they both have similar size and joined the Bears as unheralded prospects from small schools. The big difference is that Big Cat entered the NFL as a defensive lineman who was converted to the other side of the ball.

I was in a sports bar in Big Rapids, Michigan, the other day and they had a No. 2 Bears jersey on the wall. Who wore that number with the team?

Larry
Crystal, Michigan

My best guess is that it belonged to Paul Edinger, who played at Michigan State before spending five seasons with the Bears from 2000-04. It also could have belonged to quarterbacks Doug Flutie (1986) or Will Furrer (1992) or punter Mike Horan (1998). The number was not worn by any Bears in a regular-season game from 1946-1985.

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