Q: Why did the Bears wait all this time with Lance Briggs? Why wouldn't they have just re-signed him last year and avoid all the hard feelings from this season?
— Angie, Chicago

A: The Bears would have loved to have re-signed Briggs a year ago. But both sides needed for Briggs to be a free agent before they could be certain of what his true market value was. Once Briggs got on the open market and discovered he was not going to be paid as much as some of the other premier free agents, he decided to accept the Bears' offer.

Q: Are the Browns really settled on Derek Anderson as their quarterback of the future? What are they going to do with Brady Quinn?
— Drew, Akron, Ohio

A: The beauty of the Browns' situation is they don't have to declare their quarterback of the future. They can let things play out. If Anderson builds on his performance last year, improves his game and stays healthy, it will be difficult to unseat him. But if he falters or is unavailable because of injury, he will give Brady Quinn an opportunity to be the team's quarterback of the future. If Quinn gets that opportunity, he will have to take advantage of it in order to take over. Whoever the Browns ultimately decide on will have to have earned the position. Unless, of course, neither quarterback does.

Q: I read your column about free agency. Please tell me what distinguishes a left tackle from a right tackle and why are they "locking up" the left tackles?
— Terry Breckenridge, Centennial, Colo.

A: The left tackle typically goes against the best pass rusher the defense has to offer and has to protect the right-handed quarterback's blindside. So he has to be more athletic and more quick-footed than the right tackle. There are fewer really good left tackles than there are right tackles, so when a team has one, it usually makes sure that player is going to stick around awhile.

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Q: Who is currently the fastest man in the NFL?
— Hank, Alexandria, Va.

A: There is a difference between track speed and football speed. The players most likely to win a track meet would be Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt, Baltimore Ravens returner Yamon Figurs or Atlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall. But the fastest on the field would probably be New England Patriots receiver Randy Moss or Bears return man Devin Hester.

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