Souhan: Vikings' Patterson too passive about inactivity

Former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson spoke for all diva receivers when he wrote a book titled "Just Give Me The Damn Ball.''

If Vikings receiver Cordarrelle Patterson wrote a book today, he would call it "Please Throw Me The Ball Occasionally, If It Wouldn't Be Too Much Trouble, Peace, Out.''

The Vikings and Patterson are staging the mildest wide receiver controversy in recent football history. The coach says nice things about the receiver. The receiver refuses to blast the coach or the quarterback. Only the stat sheet screams like a jilted Keyshawn.

Sunday, while a host of Vikings youngsters contributed to a 31-13 victory over Carolina at TCF Bank Stadium, Patterson went without a catch for the first time in his pro career. He barely played in the first half and played without contributing in the second.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw one pass his way — a screen that Patterson dropped. On at least one play, Patterson seemed to cut his route short in frustration.

Drafted in the first round in 2013 to replace Percy Harvin, Patterson has failed to mimic Harvin's production, or anger.

"I've got to prove to the coaches that I'm trustworthy and I can go out and do it,'' Patterson said. "This week is going to be a big week for me, to show them that I'm ready to take a step forward.''

"I think he's going to be a good player,'' Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "He continues to deal with things, so that was just a part of it.''

The particulars of Patterson's catchless afternoon remain mysterious. Patterson said he thought nagging injuries led to the coaches not playing him more.

Patterson did not mention missing practice time this week while attending a funeral, but Zimmer brought it up, and in a classic bit of Zimmer bluntness, said: "First off, you have to be at practice. Then you have to do stuff when you're there.''

Zimmer calls himself "The Fixer.'' He's helped, among others, Xavier Rhodes, Everson Griffen, Anthony Barr and Sharrif Floyd either improve dramatically or get up to NFL speed quickly.

He hired Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator, a "Quarterback Whisperer'' to complement The Fixer. While youngsters like Bridgewater, Jerick McKinnon and Charles Johnson have shown promise, Patterson, perhaps the best athlete on the roster, has regressed.

"It's strange to me, man,'' Patterson said. "I don't know what's going on. You've got to talk to Coach Zimmer about that. I've just got to try to go out each day and try to work.''

General Manager Rick Spielman probably decided to fire former offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave midway through last season because Patterson was invisible. The last six weeks of the season, as a receiver and runner, he averaged 71.5 yards from scrimmage and scored six touchdowns.

The first week of this season, Turner moved him all over the field, and Patterson caught three passes for 26 yards, and carried three times for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Over his past 11 games, Patterson has produced one touchdown, and an average of 30.5 yards from scrimmage. Over his past four games, he is averaging 13.5 yards from scrimmage. He has been passed on the depth chart by Johnson, a former seventh-round draft pick.

Zimmer's staff seems to be taking the long view, insisting Patterson practice well and develop receiver skills, instead of inventing ways to get him the ball.

"You've got to talk to Coach Zimmer about that,'' Patterson said. "Whatever Coach Zimmer and the other coaches say, I stand behind that.''

Maybe being a nice guy at his position isn't productive. Diva receivers are impolite, and obsessive. While no one wants to deal with a receiver screaming on the sideline, the screaming does speak to competitiveness and commitment.

Patterson doesn't scream. He speaks of "going out there and enjoying yourself.''

It's time for Patterson to channel Cris Carter.

It's time for Patterson to earn the right to be angry.

Jim Souhan's podcasts can be heard at souhanunfiltered.com. jsouhan@startribune.com