10 Bears questions: On Chris Conte, shared b-days, rugby & draft

Whether the Bears united to beat the Vikings or because they beat the Vikings isn’t a question John Fox cares to parse.

“It’s a game of confidence,” the Bears coach said. “And it’s hard to get confidence without something good happening — and that typically is wins. …

“But what came first, the chicken or the egg? I think we performed well, so you have a better chance of winning. And then it all works.”

While we ponder the eternal question, here are 10 more for the Bears as they prepare to play in Tampa on Sunday:

1. Best birthday gift ever?

Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman were born on the same date: Jan. 6 ,1994.

When they played together at Florida State, they won the national title game against Auburn on Jan. 6, 2014 — their 20th birthday.

“We celebrated by winning the national championship,” Winston said. “That was pretty awesome.”

2. Remember Chris Conte?

The former Bears safety will make his first ever start against his former team. He’s started 21 of 22 games over two seasons, and all eight this year.

Coach Dirk Koetter listed what he’s liked about the safety, who the Bears let leave via free agency after the 2014 season.

“Athletic,” Koetter said. “Can cover like a corner. Smart. Can make all the calls in the back end. Can match up with a tight end or back in the backfield. Can cover a third wide receiver if needed to. Just a better athlete than he’s given credit for, I think.“

3. Who loves Lovie?

“I was hurt when Lovie was let go,” Winston said of the first-year Illinois coach, who was fired by Tampa after last season. “But I still love Lovie to this day. And I’m very excited that Coach Koetter’s our head coach.”

4. Wanna bet?

Fox had won seven-straight games immediately following a bye until last year’s 23-20 loss to the Vikings.

5. Where’s USF?

When he played in Tampa from 2009-12 and in 2015, Bears kicker Connor Barth would track the home schedule of the USF Bulls, who share Raymond James Stadium, to see if the turf would be chewed up.

He checked this week. Good news: the Bulls haven’t played at home since Oct. 28.

“The grass is usually decent,” Barth said. “USF hasn’t been on it in a while.”

6. Stay cool?

The Bears have been preparing for Sunday’s weather, with an estimated high 83 degrees. One complicating factor: if the players need replenishing IV fluids at halftime, the locker room doesn’t have a ton of space.

“It’s not the world’s biggest locker room for IVs,” Fox said. “But we’ll manage.”

Jay Cutler said he’d be more worried “if it was a little colder here, like typical November Chicago weather.”

7. Will the Bears pick on Vernon Hargreaves III?

Not necessarily. The Buccaneers don’t have cornerbacks follow specific receivers around the field. Rather, Hargreaves and Brent Grimes stay on their own sides of the field.

“We’re able to just do whatever we want to do because we know it’s going to be left and right all game,” Cutler said.

Bears defensive end Jonathan Bullard, Hargreaves’ teammate at Florida, said the rookie has outstanding instincts and attitude.

“Usually when you’ve been the guy your whole life, some people tend to get a little full of themselves. But he wasn’t like that.”

8. Why is this man smiling?

Fullback Paul Lasike, a former rugby player, watched the New Zealand All Blacks play at Soldier Field last weekend. He met three former national team captains — Richie McCaw, Sean Fitzpatrick and Tana Umaga — who he idolized as a kid.

“Some of the greatest in the game,” he said, “so it was really fun.”

Lasike’s parents even flew in from Brisbane, Australia, to watch the game with him.

9. Playing for draft position?

The Bears have a 12.3 percent chance of drafting in the top three, per Football Outsiders. That’s the sixth-highest mark; the Bucs are seventh at 10.4 percent.

10. Jacquizz Rodgers landed on his feet?

The man the Bears cut at the end of training camp is the Buccaneers’ leading rusher, gaining 393 yards on 88 carries, but is out Sunday with a foot injury.

“He’s a good guy,” said Bears running back Jeremy Langford, who still talks to Rodgers. “I’ve learned a lot from him. Just like when Matt (Forte) left and found a new home, I feel the same about Quizz.”