Through three games this season, Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian has one catch. He wants everyone to know that’s not his fault.
“I’ve been doing the same things I’ve always been doing,” Berrian told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I’ve been getting open. It’s just that we haven’t been able to connect. I’m doing all I can do, really.”
Let’s see. If Berrian has been doing all the same things as usual, and he’s getting open, what could the problem be? Could it be new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave or new quarterback Donovan McNabb? Berrian didn’t mention their names, but if Berrian is getting open and still isn’t getting the ball, it would seem to be an issue with the play calling or the quarterback.
Berrian has been on the field for 132 snaps, or 74.2 percent of the Vikings’ offensive plays. A receiver who’s on the field that much and has just one catch is basically a waste of space on offense, but he says he’s not stressing about everyone pointing out that he’s not much of a contributor.
“In some ways, it’s getting easier and easier to deal with,” Berrian said. “I hate to say this. But it’s almost like you get used to [the criticism]. Look, I can only control what I can do. And I can’t let myself get stressed out over things that I can’t control.”
And Berrian can only control whether he gets open, not whether McNabb gets him the ball.