www.BearGear.info

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.

Regardless of the school that Freddie Barnes went to, I find it hard to believe that the wide receiver who led the NCAA in receptions and touchdowns went undrafted. Did he have a disappointing Combine or does he have some off-the-field issues? Personally, I’m thrilled to see the Bears sign someone with so much potential.

Stephen G.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Bowling Green receiver Freddie Barnes was not invited to the Combine and doesn’t have any character concerns that I’m aware of. He probably wasn’t drafted because he doesn’t possess great speed and didn’t play in an elite conference. A knee injury that caused him to miss three games as a senior might have been a factor as well. As you mentioned, Barnes was ultra-productive as a three-year starter at Bowling Green. Last season, he set an NCAA record with 155 receptions and led the nation in receiving touchdowns with 19. Pro Football Weekly’s Draft Preview reports that Barnes struggled to separate in the East-West Shrine Game against better competition than he regularly faced in the Mid-American Conference. The publication also states that Barnes “plays faster than he times and has the mental makeup to stick as a dependable, short-area, move-the-chains possession receiver.”

Now that Chris Harris is back, is he going to wear No. 46 again or the No. 43 that he wore with the Panthers?

Chris O.
Pigeon Force, Tennessee

Chris Harris will wear the same No. 46 in his second stint with the Bears that he donned in 2005-06. By the way, no player has worn the No. 46 in a regular-season games for the Bears since Harris was traded away. Rookie Al Afalava wore it last preseason, but he switched to No. 24 before the opener.

Have the Bears ever drafted a “Mr. Irrelevant?”

Allen
Guyton, Georgia

Since the title “Mr. Irrelevant” was created in 1976 to honor the final pick in the NFL draft, the Bears have had two players earn that distinction: fullback Jim Finn in 1999 and defensive back Mike Green in 2000. Finn failed to make the Bears’ 53-man roster, but he played eight NFL seasons with the Colts (2000-02) and Giants (2003-07). Green appeared in 81 games with 45 starts in six seasons with the Bears from 2000-05 before playing for the Seahawks (2006-07) and Redskins (2008).

Email your question to Larry