Bernstine Goes On Reserve

The Chargers placed tight end Rod Bernstine on injured reserve Wednesday, but the real issue may be where he will be headed at the end of the season.

Since last year, the Chargers have questioned his physical toughness and ability to withstand the punishment required to be a consistent contributor. Bernstine says that isn’t a problem, but his track record doesn’t lend him much support:

--In 1987, his rookie season, he went on injured reserve for a hamstring injury.

--In 1988, he started 13 of 14 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury that required surgery.

--In 1989, he played five games before being placed on injured reserve with a sprained knee.

--Two weeks ago, Bernstine strained his hamstring in practice. He missed the Nov. 11 victory over Denver and played only two downs in Sunday’s 27-10 loss to the Chiefs at Kansas City.

Now he is on injured reserve again. He won’t be eligible for four weeks. Because the Chargers have a bye Dec. 9, he will miss only three games. But once again, he is under the microscope. The toughness issue has resurfaced.

“If I wasn’t tough, I wouldn’t have been out there trying (Sunday),” he said. “I don’t even really want to get into that. I don’t even want to talk about the thing with my toughness.”

Bernstine, 25, is in the last year of his original contract. His move to injured reserve could complicate negotiations for next year’s contract. A first-round draft choice from Texas A&M; who was originally a tight end, he was switched during the off-season to running back.

Statistics play a big part in negotiations. In Bernstine’s favor, his numbers are good, but the Chargers will likely maintain that he doesn’t play enough to warrant a large contract.

This season, Bernstine has rushed for 399 yards in 82 carries for a 4.9-yard average. Running back Marion Butts, the Chargers’ other primary ball carrier, has carried 189 times for 867 yards and 4.6-yard average.

Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard would not comment on the team’s future plans for Bernstine. Of the roster move, he would say only: “We need guys that can play. It’s as simple as that. He wasn’t ready to play.”

Ralph Cindrich, Bernstine’s agent, had no comment for the record on the Bernstine’s status.

Bernstine’s only playing time since his hamstring strain two weeks ago were his two carries for six yards against Kansas City. On the first, Bernstine said he felt a twinge in his hamstring. After the second, he pulled himself out of the game.

“I wasn’t help anyone by being out there,” he said. “I think you’ve got to look at it in that regard. If you’re on the field and you’re not really able to contribute, there’s no reason for you to be out there. . . . Definitely, it was a mistake playing last week.”

Asked whether this roster move raises questions about Bernstine’s durability, Charger Coach Dan Henning said: “It doesn’t raise them. It’s a fact. There’s a durability factor there that has to be taken into consideration. Sometimes a young guy . . . gets in that type of situation and people feel that (he’s not durable). Then he may come back and go five or six years and never miss a game. But that’s why you take all those things into consideration.”

Bernstine, who will receive ultrasound and ice treatments, and exercise on a stationary bike, says he has had a nagging pain in his hamstring since the fifth week of the season.

“I respect Coach Henning for putting me on injured reserve,” he said. “Now I have three or four weeks where I don’t really have to do anything except rest it.”