LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- There are no golden tickets, chocolate rivers or fizzy lifting drinks to be found at the Chicago Bears' practice facilities, but that didn't stop tight end Martellus Bennett from drawing a parallel between coach Marc Trestman and Willy Wonka.
Speaking during ESPN 1000's The Jay Cutler Show on Tuesday, Bennett expressed his appreciation for Chicago's new coach.
"I think me and Coach Trestman are probably the only two people who understand each other," Bennett said. "I always say Coach Trestman reminds me of the first Willy Wonka. Not the Johnny Depp one. The Johnny Depp one was really cool, but the first one before that, the 1943 version."
Actually, the adaptation Bennett referred to is the 1971 film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" starring Gene Wilder. Depp starred in another adaptation of the movie in 2005.
"He's a genius," Bennett said of Trestman. "A lot of times when you're around really, really smart people, you don't really understand them.
"I thought Willy Wonka was brilliant. He had all kinds of candy. Who doesn't like chocolate and candies? Everybody wanted a Gobstopper. I just think he's brilliant."
Trestman found Bennett's characterization amusing, saying, "I did hear it."
"I wouldn't know who Willy Wonka is, quite frankly," Trestman said, laughing. "I would bet it's ... umm ... Martellus is from a different place."
Told that "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" is a popular movie, Trestman mentioned the newest adaptation of the film.
"Johnny Depp, I know that one," Trestman said. "But I don't have any comment. That's just Martellus being Martellus, right? I'm just happy he's here. He's been just a joy to work with. He's been great in our locker room. He loves football and he wants to get better every day, and who could ask for more?"
Through two games, Bennett has caught 10 passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns, which ties him for the most among NFL tight ends and is the second-most touchdown receptions in the league. Bennett is the fourth player in Bears history to catch a touchdown in each of his first two games with the team and the first tight end since 1972 (Earl Thomas) to catch a TD in each of his first two games.