Vikings Message Board.Com

patterson any day of the week. his physical tools dwarf harvin's and quite possibly he could be the fastest player in the nfl. i recently read that he is faster than seattle's sherman (who is considered one of the fastest).

Patterson, by a country mile.

We've all seen that he is capable of doing anything Harvin ever did while he was here (with the possible exception of slot receiver duties). Plus, I believe his size gives him a higher ceiling as a receiver. I also like his general field awareness - two of his ridiculous, long rushing plays happened after he was supposed to throw a pass, but nobody was open.

On top of that, he has an infectious personality - he's always smiling and spreading the joy around. How many players have any of you seen get the refs to smile and actually participate with TD celebrations? He did that twice this year. Would Harvin have made a video shaking hands with the entire Winter Park office staff (Bud Grant included!)? We already know the answer is no.

http://tinyurl.com/nzq86ob (vikings.com)

Moss had some of that joy as a rookie, but that's easy when the team is having a great season. Still, he always played with a chip on his shoulder, and when things started getting rough, the BS began.

My impression of CP is that he truly loves what he is doing. This season easily could've been very disheartening for a rookie, but he seems to have the kind of personality that can lift others around him.

He's already an amazing player, and he hasn't even scratched the surface as a receiver. Let's see him haul in a few bombs next season!

Right now with both in good health the only answer is Percy. I'm sorry, but how soon we forget.

Most of those siding with CP are basing this off of potential and potential alone. That's not how things work. In two years then it's quite possible that the easy answer is Patterson, but given what we know and what Percy turned into...It's Harvin.

PacificNorseWest wrote:Right now with both in good health the only answer is Percy. I'm sorry, but how soon we forget.

Most of those siding with CP are basing this off of potential and potential alone. That's not how things work. In two years then it's quite possible that the easy answer is Patterson, but given what we know and what Percy turned into...It's Harvin.

What Percy turned into An oft injured malcontent "with the Vikings" that is what he has turned into. Playing in just one game all year. Give me a bigger stronger gifted athlete, who is healthy, 4 years younger and every bit, if not more dynamic....to each their own though

Like I said...We're playing hypotheticals here, but a healthy Harvin is worth more at this point.

Oft-injured is harsh though. Prior to last year, Harvin wasn't missing games. Today it might be a different story, but he's still the most dynamic player in the NFL when he's on the field.

CP has so much to prove, especially at WR, before he can be as well-rounded as Percy. And again...I'm very much hoping CP is a guy we look at in two years and remember how some of us hated losing Percy and just laugh. But for now...can't do that.

I have no doubts that if Percy finds his way on the field for Seattle in the coming games, you guys will quickly remember just how damn great Mr. Harvin is.

As far as better player, I'd still give the nod to Harvin.

But based on Harvin's injury history alone, I'd take Patterson. But then you factor in Patterson's size advantage, his three year age advantage, and his lack of baggage and a clearly better attitude and it's almost a no-brainer.

PacificNorseWest wrote:Like I said...We're playing hypotheticals here, but a healthy Harvin is worth more at this point.

Oft-injured is harsh though. Prior to last year, Harvin wasn't missing games. Today it might be a different story, but he's still the most dynamic player in the NFL when he's on the field.

CP has so much to prove, especially at WR, before he can be as well-rounded as Percy. And again...I'm very much hoping CP is a guy we look at in two years and remember how some of us hated losing Percy and just laugh. But for now...can't do that.

I have no doubts that if Percy finds his way on the field for Seattle in the coming games, you guys will quickly remember just how damn great Mr. Harvin is.

The Topic was "Harvin or Patterson, who would you take. No one mentioned hypotheticals and Harvin missed three games playing for the Vikings.

Purple bruise wrote: The Topic was "Harvin or Patterson, who would you take. No one mentioned hypotheticals and Harvin missed three games playing for the Vikings.

Go ahead and read people's posts though. There are some pretty good assumptions going on. "If Patterson develops..." Things of that nature. That is a hypothetical my friend. And "Harvin wasn't missing games" was a general statement that he may have missed a game or two, but it's not like he was sitting out half or the entire season for the majority of his stay.

The point that I'm making isn't that I'd rather have Percy in the long run, because I think it's fairly safe to go with CP. However, he still has loads of developing to do and the posts that all but assume he's a sure thing is off base. It comes from the line of thinking of taking a proven commodity over a prospect with a high ceiling.

PacificNorseWest wrote: Go ahead and read people's posts though. There are some pretty good assumptions going on. "If Patterson develops..." Things of that nature. That is a hypothetical my friend. And "Harvin wasn't missing games" was a general statement that he may have missed a game or two, but it's not like he was sitting out half or the entire season for the majority of his stay.

The point that I'm making isn't that I'd rather have Percy in the long run, because I think it's fairly safe to go with CP. However, he still has loads of developing to do and the posts that all but assume he's a sure thing is off base. It comes from the line of thinking of taking a proven commodity over a prospect with a high ceiling.

From his performance this last last year and the fact that he had only played one year of division 1 football, I would say that he is a "sure thing".

Patterson .. harvin played one game all season due to a sore hip .. no question

so glad we didn't pay him huge deal like Seahawks did

Orion wrote:Patterson is in a different league than Harvin.

Which league is Harvin in???

Purple bruise wrote: The Topic was "Harvin or Patterson, who would you take. No one mentioned hypotheticals and Harvin missed three games playing for the Vikings.

Go ahead and read people's posts though. There are some pretty good assumptions going on. "If Patterson develops..." Things of that nature. That is a hypothetical my friend. And "Harvin wasn't missing games" was a general statement that he may have missed a game or two, but it's not like he was sitting out half or the entire season for the majority of his stay.

The point that I'm making isn't that I'd rather have Percy in the long run, because I think it's fairly safe to go with CP. However, he still has loads of developing to do and the posts that all but assume he's a sure thing is off base. It comes from the line of thinking of taking a proven commodity over a prospect with a high ceiling.[/quote]

From his performance this last last year and the fact that he had only played one year of division 1 football, I would say that he is a "sure thing".[/quote]

It takes most W/R's until their 3rd year to fully develop to the NFL level and while there are exceptions to that general rule I dont believe we have seen enough to say he is a "sure thing" at this point. He has exceptonal natural skills (speed, elusiveness) but still needs to improve his route running and he had a couple of drops this year that a "sure thing" would catch. I love his upside and would prefer CP over Harvin but only because Harvin is such a self serving headcase and the belief that I have that CP can remain a team first player.

Patterson. Not an injury prone diva.
And don't give me "didn't miss time until blah blah blah"
He was missing snaps on a regular basis throughout his career. Even when Harvin was "healthy" he was on the sideline throughout games nursing some minor bump or bruise.

radar55 wrote: Which league is Harvin in???

The IR league?

I think Harvin is expected to play this weekend. About time! He's played in, what, one game in the past 14-15 months or so?

But, I'd pick Patterson. I'm quickly falling in love with that guy. He's one of my new faves!

I'm so glad we got him. I remember being at the draft party praying it was Patterson and not Te'o. Whew! I think I felt more relief at the time than actual happiness, but now I'm just plain happy.

PacificNorseWest wrote:Right now with both in good health the only answer is Percy. I'm sorry, but how soon we forget.

Most of those siding with CP are basing this off of potential and potential alone. That's not how things work. In two years then it's quite possible that the easy answer is Patterson, but given what we know and what Percy turned into...It's Harvin.

Let's look at the stats:

Patterson only has his Rookie year to go by so let's look at that (his passing stats)
45 - Receptions
78 - Targets
469 - Yards
10.4 - AVG
79 - Longest
4 - TDs

Patterson who has a QB of Ponder/Cassel/Freeman to work with. His rushing stats are as follows:

12 attempts
158 yards
13.2 average
50 - longest run
3 - TDs

(No fumbles by Patterson the whole year.)

Percy (in his Rookie year - ROY and the 2009 Favre throwing to him)

60 - Receptions
91 - Targets
790 - Yards
13.2 - AVG
51 - Long
6 - TDs

Rushing
15 - ATT
135 - YDS
9.0 - AVG
0 - TDs
1 Fumble

Patterson scored more TDs this year than Harvin did his Rookie year. I'll give you Harvin has better hands (I've seen Patterson drop a few). (Harvin catches 65.9% of his targeted passes and Patterson catches 57.6%. Again - keep in mind Ponder/Cassel 'probably' aren't as accurate as 2009 Favre either. Given the differences in the quality of QB play, I'm not sure I don't give Patterson the nod in quality of receiver play.

Let's look at what Harvin did become:

2010:
71 - Receptions
110- Targets
868 - Yards
12.2 - AVG
51 - Long
5 - TDs

Rushing
15 - ATT
135 - YDS
5.9 - AVG
1 - TDs
1 Fumble

He got more yardage (again playing with 2010 Favre) but still hasn't gotten as many TDs as Patterson scored. Still better on reception % at 64.5% but its worse than his Rookie year. Let's look at 2011. Now he has to deal with McNabb/Ponder (more similar to what Patterson's QB debacle as become).

87 - Receptions
123- Targets
967 - Yards
11.1 - AVG
52 - Long
6 - TDs

Rushing
52 - ATT
345 - YDS
6.6 - AVG
2 - TDs
2 Fumbles

Percy (in his 3rd year) finally scores more TDs than Patterson does in his Rookie year. He is also fumbling more than Patterson has. His reception percentage actually goes up (70.7%) but I already acknowledge Percy has better hands. So far, it seems to me that Patterson is a "less sure hands" Harvin on the catches, but "more sure hands" on subsequent runs (0 Fumbles) - You can count on Harvin to cough the ball up at least one game per season. Percy averages 2.8 more yards per catch in his season with the 2009 Favre down to .5 yards per catch more (than Patterson) once he is saddled with a similar QB situation. Seems pretty interchangeable to me.

Finally - Lets look at the Vikings final season with him (where admittedly Harvin was injured, but doesn't this come into play?)

62 - Receptions
85 - Targets
677 - Yards
10.9 - AVG
45 - Long
3 - TDs

Rushing
22 - ATT
96 - YDS
4.4 - AVG
1 - TDs
2 Fumbles

Seems pretty interchangeable (sans the Harvin attitude and the fumbles) to me.