Percy's future w/ Vikings looking uncertain

[vikeinmontana]

What has Harvin done to earn all this ire? People say he's a cancer? Really? Based on what?

Harvin has had his fair share of drama, and the supposed trade request over the summer was strange to say the least, but he came to camp. He didn't hold out or do anything other than give the team everything he had all season from what I've seen. Maybe he blew up a few times, but so what? If Frazier needed to discipline him for it he would have. The fact is, Harvin has never received a single fine, been held out of the starting lineup for missing or being late to any practice, been arrested, or had any trouble beyond his failed mary jo test before the Combine.

When he's on the field he's a monster. He does it all - returns kicks, runs the ball, and is a solid receiver who can turn nothing into something consistently.

How is this guy a cancer?

I just don't think there is much to read into this. Harvin got hurt. The injury was worse than they thought. He stuck around and it failed to improve, and when it was clear it was more severe than expected, he decided to go get a little home cooking while he let it heal. Would it have been nice if he stayed with the team? Sure, but Harvin is a person and obviously wanted to be around family while he healed up. That isn't shocking, especially around the holidays.

Harvin is a great player and I'd guess the vast majority of his teammates like him and want him around for as long as possible. Whatever friction he's had with the Vikings and Frazier is between them, and while there have been some strange things associated with Harvin, there is no way he should be traded unless A) Harvin forces it and then, even in that case B) the Vikings can get just compensation for the guy, which in my opinion would be nothing less than a top-10 pick for a player who does all he does as well as he does at the point in his career where he is.

quality post and what i've been trying to articulate. it's the medias job to ask these questions but that doesn't mean that fans with no knowledge whatsoever should just make guesses about what is happening. none of harvins teammates have ever called him a cancer. his college coach speaks highly of him. frazier speaks highly of him. he performs on the field. what else do we need? suddenly he is a known cancer who fights with coaches and isn't really hurt but just doesn't want to play and misses a ton of games?

[yezzir]

There is a huge amount of speculation all over this issue. Frasier didn't say anything negative or even remotely bad about the situation.

The only reason people are hammering on this is because PH is a high profile star player and every move he makes is documented by the media. I also think there are some lingering fears after the DC mess in 2006. I get all that, but I also feel like in terms of the facts, nothing has changed since PH went on IR. The only thing that has happened since then is more media speculation fueling more fan speculation and around and around we go.

I hope the PH situation ends up with a result that makes him happily crushing opposing defenses while wearing a Viking uniform for years to come. If that doesn't happen, for whatever reason, then I hope the vikings make the best of the situation. At this point, we do not know anything new so I'm just focusing on getting pumped for the playoff game.

If the team you are on makes the playoffs, there is no excuse for you not being able to stand on the sidelines to cheer on your teammates.

[yezzir]

I don't think the main argument here is if Harvin is really injured or not, it's his refusal to fly to Lambeau and cheer his teammates on during a playoff game.
Though I can say pretty confidently that most players and ghe head coach would rather have him not be there at all if he can't play.

[VikingLord]

He's not just a cancer, he's a "team killer" and a "coach berating psychopath".

Jim

All I want to know is how can the Vikings draft more "team killers" like Harvin?

On this note, AD has:

- Been arrested
- Twice been given tickets for speeding (well over 100 MPH in a 60 MPH zone at least once)
- Been late to team meetings
- Missed the team bus at Chicago this year
- Stayed in Texas to attend Adrian Petersen Day instead of showing up for an OTA (don't remember if it was mandatory, but I think it was)

So....

AD is a guy to emulate and revere despite the above, while Harvin is a miscreant and more trouble than he's worth?

[vikeinmontana]

If the team you are on makes the playoffs, there is no excuse for you not being able to stand on the sidelines to cheer on your teammates.

i'd like to see him out there too. but i just can't view it this way. we have no clue how his rehab is going. we have no clue what exactly is wrong. not to mention....we don't even know what it is keeping him from attending games. maybe it's the injury. maybe personal matters. there are things far bigger than football and there are certainly things that happen in life that could keep a player from watching his team in the playoffs.

it's just odd to me that fans with no knowledge can have such strong opinions on what players definitely should and definitely shouldn't be doing.

[The Breeze]

I don't think the main argument here is if Harvin is really injured or not, it's his refusal to fly to Lambeau and cheer his teammates on during a playoff game.

That hasn't happened yet....brah~

[yezzir]

i'd like to see him out there too. but i just can't view it this way. we have no clue how his rehab is going. we have no clue what exactly is wrong. not to mention....we don't even know what it is keeping him from attending games. maybe it's the injury. maybe personal matters. there are things far bigger than football and there are certainly things that happen in life that could keep a player from watching his team in the playoffs.

it's just odd to me that fans with no knowledge can have such strong opinions on what players definitely should and definitely shouldn't be doing.

I do agree with you that there may be other reasons to justify him not being present. But all that anybody has heard is "he is rehabbing his ankle in Florida".

[Mothman]

All I want to know is how can the Vikings draft more "team killers" like Harvin?

On this note, AD has:

- Been arrested
- Twice been given tickets for speeding (well over 100 MPH in a 60 MPH zone at least once)
- Been late to team meetings
- Missed the team bus at Chicago this year
- Stayed in Texas to attend Adrian Petersen Day instead of showing up for an OTA (don't remember if it was mandatory, but I think it was)

So....

AD is a guy to emulate and revere despite the above, while Harvin is a miscreant and more trouble than he's worth?

The arrest charge was quickly dismissed by the grand jury when Peterson disputed it and was probably BS from the start. The OTA he missed was a mandatory mini-camp (but, if I'm not mistaken, not a camp he was contractually obligated to attend) and it's pretty hard to see that as a big deal. To me, it speaks well of him that he chose to attend an event being held in his honor and to show his appreciation.

I see the point you're making but AD hasn't exactly been a problem player either.

[vikeinmontana]

I do agree with you that there may be other reasons to justify him not being present. But all that anybody has heard is "he is rehabbing his ankle in Florida".

exactly. which is all they should have to say. despite what some fans and media think....just because they are your favorite team doesn't mean that we have some right to know everything about anything. they don't have to tell us a thing. and i see how that can upset some fans. but just because you (not YOU but in general) are not privy to what is happening within the vikes organization does not mean you should just come up with a scenario and run with it. last year when manning was rehabbing he missed some games, made some but stayed in the box, and several he was on the field. we have no idea anything that is going on in percy harvin's life whether it be his injury, personal matters, or anything else. that's what drives me crazy about fans and media speculating on players. there's nothing to back it up.

[yezzir]

exactly. which is all they should have to say. despite what some fans and media think....just because they are your favorite team doesn't mean that we have some right to know everything about anything. they don't have to tell us a thing. and i see how that can upset some fans. but just because you (not YOU but in general) are not privy to what is happening within the vikes organization does not mean you should just come up with a scenario and run with it. last year when manning was rehabbing he missed some games, made some but stayed in the box, and several he was on the field. we have no idea anything that is going on in percy harvin's life whether it be his injury, personal matters, or anything else. that's what drives me crazy about fans and media speculating on players. there's nothing to back it up.

Sorry partner, but I disagree about this Harvin thing for now. If the rehab is his excuse, which as of now it is, I dojt see why he cant be on the sidelines for 3 hours. If he comes out with a statement about a more serious manner, thats cool. But all you have to do is read Frazier's comments about Harvins absence. "Its up to Percy whether he is here or not."

[mansquatch]

I find it funny that people took my post as my blatantly dissagreeing with them, especially when I said there COULD be an issue. Whether or not there is a situation wasn't really my point, my point was that we do not have enough information to do anything execpt make wild speculations based on the smallest slivers of actual evidence.

If that is enough for you then Skip Bayless wants his thinking cap back. Me, I prefer to wait until some sort of facts are available that determine what is actually happening instead of getting all bent out of shape over what might happen or what I think might happen or what some dingbat reporter ginned up to get people to follow his twitter feed.

Of course, to each there own.

[S197]

What has Harvin done to earn all this ire? People say he's a cancer? Really? Based on what?

I can't figure it out either. And not to take anything away from Wright but his name shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as Harvin's. Harvin was offensive rookie of the year. Wright has had a couple nice catches. He may turn into a PH-type player down the road but he's got a long way to go.

As for the "we've been better without him" argument, well does that mean we should keep Burton, Aromashodu, et al? I mean we've done better with them, right?

All I know is the guy gives 110% when he's on the field and is one of the most explosive and versatile players in the NFL. Early in the year there were people saying outside of QB, Harvin would be their first pick as someone to have on their team. And now all of a sudden fans are ready to throw that away over a bunch of rumors?

The same things were said about Peterson. The guy fumbles too much, you don't pay a RB that much money. Look who got us into the playoffs. Like I said before, you need a nucleus of veterans to build around, you don't go destroy something you took so long to build unless there's a real legit reason. Right now, I don't see any.

[vikeinmontana]

Sorry partner, but I disagree about this Harvin thing for now. If the rehab is his excuse, which as of now it is, I dojt see why he cant be on the sidelines for 3 hours. If he comes out with a statement about a more serious manner, thats cool. But all you have to do is read Frazier's comments about Harvins absence. "Its up to Percy whether he is here or not."

no...i don't think we're really disagreeing actually. i just haven't formed an opinion because i don't know the facts. i'm just pointing out that without knowing anything about the situation...it is not fair to say there is NO reason he shouldn't be with the team. players all over the league are on IR and don't go to their teams games....home or away.

i think some are trying to make a big deal about it and others are running with that idea. the media is getting what they want because we're talking about it. but from my standpoint i can't say for certain that anyone, frazier, teammates, harvin etc. has done anything wrong yet.

[Mothman]

Sorry partner, but I disagree about this Harvin thing for now. If the rehab is his excuse, which as of now it is, I dojt see why he cant be on the sidelines for 3 hours. If he comes out with a statement about a more serious manner, thats cool. But all you have to do is read Frazier's comments about Harvins absence. "Its up to Percy whether he is here or not."

Well, he did have an emergency appendectomy just a little over 2 weeks ago. That seems like a pretty good reason to stay home and rest.

Jim

[Cliff]

Well, he did have an emergency appendectomy just a little over 2 weeks ago. That seems like a pretty good reason to stay home and rest.

Jim

I'm torn on whether or not I think there's fire behind all this smoke. One part of me thinks "The guy hasn't actually missed the playoff game yet and even if he does it doesn't necessarily mean anything."

At the same time I find myself wondering if Peterson would be absent from the sidelines during a game like the one coming up tomorrow if he were injured.