The Bears said from the start they’d be asking a lot out of top draft pick Kyler Gordon, and they’ve held to their word.

They immediately made him their nickel corner, arguably the most difficult defensive position for a rookie to learn, and he has played all but one snap. They insist he has elite talent and uncapped potential, but he’s off to a choppy start.

After Aaron Rodgers picked on Gordon in Week 2 and completed 10 of 13 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown when he was in coverage, according to Pro Football Reference, fledgling Texans quarterback Davis Mills followed suit.

Film review showed Mills completed 4 of 8 passes for 88 yards against Gordon. Those numbers aren’t outrageous, but the timing was problematic. Mills hit wide receiver Chris Moore running away from Gordon for 52 yards in the first quarter and practice squad tight end Jordan Akins for 25 in the third.

Both plays vaulted the Texans into scoring range and led to points.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus downplayed Gordon’s early struggles and said he has continued to improve.

“He’s solid,” Eberflus said Monday. “He’s building upon his experiences, and that’s the biggest thing that he can do.”

In the long view, that’s true. The Bears aren’t eying a Super Bowl and don’t need Gordon to be an instant star. But he is essential to their rebuild.

While quarterback Justin Fields and linebacker Roquan Smith have rightfully been the focal points on either side of the ball so far, Gordon is next in line as meriting attention. His development, along with fellow second-rounder Jaquan Brisker at safety, is one of the most prominent aspects of this season.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles didn’t have a first-round pick this year, but was so convinced that Gordon was a first-round talent that he instructed his staff to plan as though he’d be off the board by the time their first choice came up in the second round at No. 39 overall.

They loved everything about him, especially his athleticism — players and coaches have raved for months about amazing plays he has made in practice — and intelligence. Playing nickel corner requires the versatility to handle any type of receiver, running back or tight end in coverage, and it has become one of the most valuable positions in the league.

That’s why Eberflus, a man with infinite responsibilities and limited time, has been working individually with Gordon to help him develop into the star the Bears project him to become.

For his part, Gordon has been unflinchingly honest about bad plays and unwavering in his confidence.

“The more I see, the more I grow and the more it just goes into the files in my head,” he said. “I keep remembering certain instances and I’m growing from it.”

His responsibility and importance is even greater if top cornerback Jaylon Johnson remains out. Gordon played extensively at outside cornerback in the Bears’ base defense Sunday, opposite Kindle Vildor.

The Bears need to be mindful of overloading their rookies with too much to process, but Eberflus reiterated Monday that everything about Gordon’s makeup points to him being able to handle playing inside or outside.

“You always have got to look at that, especially when you’re working with a rookie, but he’s shown that he can do it,” Eberflus said. “His techniques are good. In terms of knowing his assignments… we’re pleased.”

Knowing where to be is the first step. Reacting and getting there in the moment is next.

Eberflus made clear from the onset that he was willing to ride out rookie mistakes, and opposing quarterbacks are absolutely going to keep going at Gordon until he shows he’s ready. It’s reasonable to expect him to need time, but the sooner he arrives, the better the Bears’ defense will be.

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The line of doubters has been growing.

Didn’t add enough this offseason, “continuity” was a questionable plan, the Eastern Conference is a minefield … pick a criticism and the Bulls have heard it the last few months.

So while NBA media day is usually a nice bonfire and some Kumbaya filling the fleeting summer sky, Monday’s was a bit different for the crew at the United Center.

That started with veteran DeMar DeRozan.

At age 33 and coming off arguably one of his best seasons in the NBA, DeRozan spent the last few months hearing the critics dissect his game and predicting the inevitable fading of it in Year 14.

Enough so that he fired back at it on social media recently.

“I mean at this point, I always find humor in it,” DeRozan said. “You always try to find reasons to be motivated. At this point, I have so many other motivational factors that it becomes laughable. I always use whatever I can take. It’s kind of like free energy. I indulge in it and just let them eat their words whenever they eat it.”

Then why reply and get caught up in it?

“Because it’s like, “God damn, what did I do to you all?’ ” DeRozan replied. “Because I know nobody understands and knows the amount of work that I put in. I know for a fact that most of the guys in our league don’t work like I do. Just me knowing that part of it, I already know what you’re putting up is BS.”

DeRozan wasn’t the only one with a chip on his shoulder, either.

Fellow All-Star Zach LaVine found himself still being asked about being a max contract player and the pressure that will come with that.

LaVine’s response was his usual company line.

“I put the highest expectations on myself more than anybody, and I keep developing my game like I have the last nine years of my career,” LaVine said. “I don’t think a contract is going to give me any extra motivation for it because I already have enough myself.”

Easy to say the eve before camp practices are scheduled to start. Let’s check back with LaVine come February and March, especially if this Bulls team is trying to find a foothold in a play-in spot and that five-year, $215-million extension has an even brighter spotlight shining on it.

That’s when LaVine’s West Coast cool will really be tested.

There is a desk, however, where the buck starts and stops.

Since executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas first sat in the chair prior to the 2020-21 season, Karnisovas has been showered in praise for the quick turnaround. But even feel-good has an expiration date in the Association.

Karnisovas isn’t even close to reaching that, but there are now reasonable questions about his plan in building this roster, starting with the decision to stay the course with the core group this offseason. A core group that finished 3-25 against teams .600 or better last season and was bounced from the playoffs in the first round.

Even with the East getting better, Karnisovas wasn’t about to start second-guessing his plan.

“I think we need time to see this group play together longer to have any type of conclusion because we liked what we saw in the first 20 games,” Karnisovas said, when asked about summer regrets. “I think this group needs a lot more time.

“The things we are going to focus on, because it’s a lot of talent on this team, is chemistry and team cohesion and relationships because we all understand talent wins games and relationships win championships. Everything we do in our building is thinking about winning.”

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Lonzo Ball was scheduled to have left knee surgery on Wednesday, with the hope to remove some debris and have him back on track for a re-evaluation in four-to-six weeks.

That was all Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas was willing to insist with conviction.

How quickly the point guard will return, or if he’ll even return this season? That’s not a pool that Karnisovas was willing to swim in.

“I’m not a doctor,” Karnisovas said on Monday. “I’m just going to wait and see what the doctors are going to tell me.”

And that’s where it gets tricky for the Bulls.

Ball went down last January with what was first diagnosed as a bone bruise that would need a few weeks to subside. One surgery and now eight months later, Ball was still sidelined, and in Los Angeles awaiting a second surgery on the knee.

There was some criticism about the timing of Ball’s decision for a second surgery, but Karnisovas explained that timeline.

“We gave every opportunity [for Ball] to rehab and get back on the court without doing the surgery,” Karnisovas said. “That was our thought process, with the thought in mind of what’s best for the player. We’re at a crossroads now where we need to do something else and that’s why we opted in to do the procedure.”

Ball’s teammates have been in constant contact, and know how tough this latest injury saga has been for the former No. 2 overall pick.

“I know guys have talked about it all summer, but let’s understand he wants to be out here more than anyone else,” guard Zach LaVine said. “Nobody wants to be injured. It’s tough to have people talk about it each and every day, and when you’re going to be back. I just told him, ‘Make sure you’re ready when you are cause when you come back we need you, you’re our starting point guard, you’re the cog to our defense, our facilitator.’ ”

As far as a plan to replace Ball for the time being, coach Billy Donovan was leaving it an open competition. Second-year combo guard Ayo Dosunmu, as well as veterans Alex Caruso and Goran Dragic are all in play, but Donovan wanted to use practices and exhibition games to see which groups work in sync with certain personnel.

‘What are you doing, Dragic?’

Dragic knew the question was coming in his first media session as a Bull, and it came.

The veteran was on the receiving end of a 2010 poster dunk by Derrick Rose, leaving announcer Stacey King to scream, “What are you doing, Dragic …” after the then-Suns guard attempted to block Rose. A block that was very unsuccessful.

“Yes, this is my nightmare,” Dragic said, laughing.

He then explained the play all these years later.

“The funny thing, this was the only time somebody dunked on me in my whole NBA career,” Dragic said. “It’s fine.”

Dragic said he spoke to Rose about the play later, when the two were on an Adidas promotion tour.

“I said, ‘You had to do it like that?’ ” Dragic recalled. “I was young … second year in the league. First year I didn’t play much, so my second year I started to play a little bit so I had to go for that play. Of course if I knew [the outcome], I would never [challenged Rose], but it is what it is. At least I’m on TV all the time.”

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Pondering Bears quarterback Justin Fields leads me to thoughts of the family dog I purchased a decade ago.

The girls had decided they needed a small, fluffy breed that didn’t shed, and the man with a brood said the one we picked was ”pet quality, not show quality.”

The dog had a paw that turned out slightly and some other ”defects” that mattered only if you were preparing to trot him in a ”Best in Show” remake. That is, if you were ready for a commentator like John Michael Higgins to spew cynically, ”He broke his gait. He may as well have taken a dump.”

This dog we love is not in competition. Most assuredly, not in elite competition.

Sadly, quarterback Fields is.

As I have said many times, there is nothing harder in all of team sports than being a successful NFL quarterback. There’s no shame in being ”pet quality.”

But team owners aren’t looking for cuddly, flawed creatures to lead their teams. They’re looking for beasts like Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson — when they’re at their peaks — to lead.

Fields on Sunday was so bad that it is remarkable the Bears beat the Texans. A good running game, a good defense, and a lousy Houston squad made the difference.

It’s astounding to think that an NFL quarterback in the modern era (since the invention of the T-formation, the banishment of the bump-and-run, the proliferation of tree-frog sticky receiver gloves, and the apparent moratorium on holding penalties by offensive linemen) can throw just 28 passes in two games.

Yet that’s all Fields has thrown since the 17 he tossed in the opener. Consider: Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray threw 28 passes in the first half against the Rams on Sunday. Joe Flacco has thrown 155 passes so far, Josh Allen, 132, Joe Burrow, 125. And so on.

Fields has 297 total passing yards in three games. Thirty-one quarterbacks have more. Twenty have thrown for at least 700 yards.

Fields’ four interceptions tie him for second most (or worst) in the league. His two passing touchdowns rank him 27th.

The point is, quarterbacks play the game to throw passes. The Ravens’ Jackson and a couple other quarterbacks are legitimate running threats — and Fields has good wheels, too. But that’s not why anybody leads the way. Running is a corollary to quarterback success, not a foundation.

Second-year man Fields knows how badly he has played. People talk about giving him time to adjust and learn the pro game. But the flash of greatness needs to appear. Patience be damned.

”I just played like trash,” he said Sunday. No need to expand.

The amazing part of the Bears’ 2-1 success is that they have made their mark running the ball. Kudos to backup running back Khalil Herbert for gaining 157 yards on 20 carries Sunday. And congrats to the Bears for their 281 total rushing yards, the most since 1984. The Bears had 283 yards rushing in that game 38 years ago, and lost 23-14 to the Cowboys. The point being, you’re not going far if you can’t pass.

And we don’t know if Fields can do that. Oh, his arm is strong enough. But his vision, anticipation, instant checkdown skill, his feel for what is in front of him seems missing.

One would expect foes to now scheme mightily against the Bears’ rushing attack, and defy Fields to throw. Pass the damn ball, kid!

That’s almost exactly what Bears fans are saying, too.

Clearly, coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy are worried about Fields airing it out. Disaster might lurk. Indeed, his two aggressive passes deep down the middle — always dangerous area — were intercepted by Texans safety Jalen Pitre.

The pro game is so fast that receivers who were open in the college game — especially when you’re leading super-talented Ohio State — get gobbled up by NFL defensive backs’ comeback speed and tricky schemes.

It’s not height or speed or strength Fields is lacking. But it might be the intangible something, the something his failed predecessor Mitch Trubisky lacked.

In that classic mockumentary, ”Best in Show,” the clueless announcer played by Fred Willard blurts out with a smile as he watches the finals parade, ”And to think that in some countries these dogs are eaten!”

We just eat quarterbacks here.

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The last time Dylan Sikura donned a Blackhawks sweater, he was a floundering prospect failing to translate his collegiate stardom to the NHL.

Two and a half years later, Sikura is back with the Hawks. But he’s not exactly the same Sikura.

“I’m a different player,” he said. “I’ve matured a lot from my first couple years pro. [When] you go through the ringer, you learn a lot about yourself.”

When Sikura turned pro in 2018, expectations were high. He’d churned out 111 points in 73 games and during his junior and senior years at Northeastern, where he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist. He was considered one of the Hawks’ top forward prospects.

Those high hopes never panned out, though. Sikura spent three seasons bouncing back and forth between the AHL and NHL, producing plenty of points in Rockford but very few in Chicago.

He infamously went 43 games without a goal before breaking the drought in January 2020, and he made just three more Hawks appearances after that. A trade to the Golden Knights that fall ended his tenure after just one goal and 13 assists.

One of then-general manager Stan Bowman and then-coach Jeremy Colliton’s biggest concerns about Sikura–and perhaps the most logical explanation for his struggles–was his inability to crash the net. At 5-11, 166 pounds, he didn’t have the necessary strength to fend off NHL-caliber defensemen and establish his presence in the most dangerous areas of the ice.

“My first year, I don’t think I even went to the net at all,” he said. “Being able to box guys out and having confidence in your body [is so important]. I lacked that a little bit. I was getting pushed around or shying away from some of those spaces because I knew I couldn’t win those battles.

“At the time, Jeremy still trusted me to be on the ice when I [was] not producing. That was one of my strongest suits. I was finding some parts of my game, but missing the element I was more used to.”

The trade to Vegas served as a wake-up call. Since then, Sikura, now 27, has added 15 to 20 pounds and accepted his future might be as more of a grinding depth forward.

He racked up 33 goals and 73 points in 60 games for the Colorado Eagles last season, ranking seventh in the AHL in scoring, before watching the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup run as a healthy scratch.

“I had a good year in the minors,” he said. “Obviously it was a different league, but I think I can transition some of that to this level now.”

He was initially surprised to see a familiar name–Mark Bernard, who functions as the IceHogs’ GM–pop up on his phone this summer, but he soon realized a reunion made sense for both parties.

Sikura would like to prove he’s finally worthy of a call-up, and the rebuilding Hawks offer one of the relatively easiest roads to NHL playing time. Meanwhile, the Hawks want forward depth and for Rockford to be a Calder Cup contender. They signed a number of experienced AHL stars–including Sikura, Brett Seney, Buddy Robinson, Luke Philp and Adam Clendening–with that in mind.

New Hawks coach Luke Richardson previously wasn’t familiar with Sikura but has been impressed by his “confidence with the puck” so far in training camp. And indeed, that new confidence–accompanying his new muscle–differentiates this Sikura from his previous iteration.

“It was a little weird at the start, but it’s nice to not feel overwhelmed when you come to a new team,” Sikura said. “[With] a little more corner weight and the heavier parts of my game, hopefully I can find that scoring touch I was missing here.”

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Matt Eberflus sent a message to Teven Jenkins Monday

The Chicago Bears’ passing attack continues to be non-existent in games this season. Quarterback Justin Fields had a dreadful performance in Week 3. But not all of the air attack’s issues have been on the second-year quarterback. The wide receiver play has been bad. The offensive line hasn’t kept a clean pocket. Monday, head coach Matt Eberflus offered contradictory statements about FIelds development in the offense and how the Bears plan to structure their offensive line with Teven Jenkins.

Eberflus, addressing the media Monday, said the Bears need to do a better job keeping the pocket clean for Fields, according to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic.

The Bears’ run blocking has been excellent this season. PFF rates the Bears as the NFL’s second-best run-blocking team. Pass blocking has been a different story. General manager Ryan Poles made it clear this offseason that the Bears would start their best five offensive linemen this season at any combination. But that appears not to be the case.

In the early season, Jenkins has been rotating with Lucas Patrick to play guard. Jenkins has been rated much higher by PFF as a run blocker and pass blocker in his 72 snaps for the Bears this season than Patrick has with his 90 snaps. Jenkins has given up no sacks of Fields but has two hurries allowed. Patrick has given up four hurries. The offensive tackle position (where Jenkins was moved from this offseason) has been especially awful at pass blocking. Larry Borom has given up two sacks and five pressures. Rookie Braxton Jones has given up three sacks and nine pressures.

Eberflus is critical of how Teven Jenkins conducts business at practice

One would think Eberflus, who says that he cares about Fields’ development and that a clean pocket is necessary for Fields’ development, would put Teven Jenkins on the field more to help Fields in the passing game. However, according to CHGO reporter Nicholas Moreano, Eberflus told reporters Monday that Jenkins playing time is subject to how the second-year offensive lineman practices.

That was a brutal message sent to Jenkins about his practice habits. But it’s an even harsher memo sent to Fields: Whatever petty drama the Bears brass and Jenkins have had since this offseason and training camp is more important than Fields having that clean pocket to make throws in.

Eberflus and Jenkins need to work out their problems before the New York Giants game in Week 4. Jenkins needs to take practice seriously, but Eberflus is flirting with potential disaster by putting a defective product out on the field at the offensive line. One can chalk this decision up as another newbie mistake for rookie head coach Eberflus.

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Zach Lavine ready to compete for a championship

Zach Lavine did not shy away from comments at the Chicago Bulls media day. One of the Bulls’ star players set the goals high and his comments on their expectations.

“If they’re not high, what are we doing here? We’re a team that held a top record in the East all the way until after the All-Star break, got a playoff berth, and got our feet wet,” LaVine said. “If we’re not competing for a championship we’re selling ourselves short.”

Zach Lavine getting the Bulls to the next level

The Bulls made the playoffs for the 1st time last year, in the 5 years of Lavine’s time in Chicago. The Bulls are coming off a 46-36 finish and look to continue that success for the 2022-23 season. For, the team this was the most success in Lavine’s time with Chicago but did not post his best individual numbers. Lavine’s numbers dropped last season with the addition of Demar Derozan and finding a way for those 2 to play together at their highest levels will be the way for the Bulls to advance in the playoffs next season.

Many will say step 1 is showing up. Lavine has yet to play 70 games in the regular season for the Chicago Bulls and having that time on the floor can lead to more continuity with the other players and will be another way to get a higher seed in the playoffs and gain home court advantage heading into the postseason.

Here is the entire video of Lavine’s interview on media day:

Zach Lavine and Demar Derozan

This is year 2 for the connection of Zach Lavine and Demar Derozan. When bringing in an all-star caliber player like Derozan it can take an adjustment period. There are suggestions that Demar’s production will drop this year. Which could very well happen.

This is a task for Coach Billy Donavon in his 3rd year with the team that they need to avoid. Coach Donavon needs Lavine and Derozan to play at their highest level. While also incorporating and finding ways to get more out of young forward Patrick Williams and involving Center Nikola Vucevic.

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