Ryan Poles addresses ‘distractions’ that come with ‘Hard Knocks,’ how Bears would handle it

As NFL teams get ready for minicamp and OTAs, the league is currently deciding which one will be the subject of Hard Knocks. A strong candidate could be in Chicago after an impressive NFL Draft that includes the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.

Over the last couple years, Bears owner George McCaskey made his thoughts clear about wanting Hard Knocks possibly featuring his team – or, rather, not wanting at all. But Chicago could make for an interesting story with so many roster additions, from Williams and Rome Odunze to Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift.

Thursday, general manager Ryan Poles said while he hasn’t heard anything about Hard Knocks coming to town, the Bears would “roll” if called to be the featured team. While he noted there are “distractions” that come with it, he’d understand why the NFL would select Chicago or potentially look elsewhere.

“I have not heard. It wouldn’t surprise me either way,” Poles said on The Waddle and Silvy Show on ESPN 1000 in Chicago. “In terms of being in favor for, there are some distractions that come along with it. But it’s one of those things that what you learn in this league, you just adjust and adapt to whatever shows up.

“So if it’s here, we’ll roll. If it’s not, we’ll just keep it moving. But we’ll see.”

Why the Bears would be an interesting choice for ‘Hard Knocks’

The Bears are one of three teams that could be forced into the show, along with the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos, based on the NFL’s criteria. None of the franchises have a first-year head coach, they didn’t make the playoffs in either of the last two years and haven’t appeared on Hard Knocks in the last 10 years.

Chicago’s story has a new kind of intrigue, though. Williams is coming in as perhaps the highest-rated draft pick in the last 10 years and the hope is he could be – at long last – the Bears’ quarterback of the future. As if that wasn’t enough, Poles landed Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick, giving Chicago some impressive additions for new coordinator Shane Waldron to work with alongside returning playmakers D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet.

On defense, the Bears still have Montez Sweat back after last year’s trade and signed Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson to an extension. Chicago’s unit was among the league’s best after Matt Eberflus started calling plays, and the hope is that will again be the case this season.

Poles admitted he understands the purpose of Hard Knocks and compared it to other similar docuseries. He even watches some of them. However, he said it’s interesting to think about his own team being featured.

“I get the program,” Poles said. “I mean, I watched Full Swing, I watched the F1 stuff. I think it’s cool to see behind the scenes. But when it’s your own, it hits you a little bit different.”