***Spoiler alert: This article includes details about the first episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears.
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Linebacker TJ Edwards said he hasn’t watched the first episode of Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears, but he did provide some perspective on the Canadian Eagle, rookie talent shows and Matt Eberflus, the college linebacker.
“I did not, I’m not going to lie,” Edwards told the media at Halas Hall after practice Wednesday. “I get home at about 8:30, 8:45 and I’m good. From there, I’m going to sleep. I’m sure it was great, [I’m] sure it was a lot of Caleb [Williams] and all that, but it’s good for the people to see.”
Edwards did say he saw the clip of rookie undrafted offensive lineman Theo Benedet’s rookie talent show debut.
“I didn’t know that Theo was going to be on there so, I saw the highlight of that just because I needed to see the reactions,” Edwards said. “One of the more wild things I’ve seen in my time in the NFL, but that’s what it’s about, right?
“It’s great for people to see — I don’t know about that part being great for people to see — But it’s cool.”
Benedet, who is from Canada and played college football at the University of British Columbia, stripped down to a speedo to perform a rendition of Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the U.S.A.
Edwards said he too had his own rookie talent show moment, but it was far from the performance put on by his Canadian counterpart.
“[It] wasn’t anything like that,” Edwards said to a chorus of laughs. “I sang Buy You a Drank by T-Pain and it was probably the worst thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. Got it done with and it was good to go.”
Edwards was also asked about if there was any chatter in the linebackers’ room about Eberflus and his college days as a linebacker at the University of Toledo, where the Bears’ head coach starred under then Toledo Head Coach Nick Saban.
Ultimately, there wasn’t, but Edwards said Eberflus has spun a few tales to guys on the defense before.
“He’s told us some stories for sure,” Edwards said. “We can’t tell if we believe him or not so, I might have to tune in and see what’s going on.”
As Edwards walked out of the press conference at Halas Hall, he was asked about the high-sitting neck roll that defenders — Like Eberflus — used to wear.
“The collar? Yeah, that’s what we call a one-gap linebacker,” Edwards said with a smile.
HBO’s Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears will air new episodes every Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT, through Sept. 3.