Remember those old "Lassie" episodes when the star character would limp when instructed?
OK, neither do I. (I do remember laughing hysterically when people started translating bark-language. "Woof, woof." "What Lassie? The river has flooded its banks and paw's house is in danger?" But, we digress.)
Wrapping up a rollicking day in the NFC North, Minnesota coach Brad Childress referenced the limping episode Wednesday when asked about the status of receiver Bernard Berrian's troublesome turf toe. Berrian sat out some preseason time with the injury but hasn't missed a regular season game.
"He still has a little hitch in his get-along," Childress said. "Kind of like Lassie. ... You know how Lassie used to limp on command with the bad foot? He's got that going every now and then."
Notice the ellipses in the previous quote? That's when Childress began whistling the theme song of Lassie's television show. You can see for yourself on the Vikings' web site. (Click on "media center" and "Childress presser 11-5" off the home page. The question is about 3/4 of the way through.)
What exactly did Childress mean? If I didn't know any better, it sounds like he was suggesting the injury can cause Berrian to limp when it's convenient for him. It certainly hasn't affected his play. Berrian has had at least 100 yards in three of the past four games and is on pace for a career year.
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Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and daughter.