Percy-ption Is Reality: Where the Heck is Harvin?

by Gonzo on Aug 1, 2009 6:47 AM CDT in Vikings Comment 18 comments

As we reach the first day of August, only 12 of the NFL's 32 first-round draft picks have been signed by their teams. As we all know, Vikings' WR Percy Harvin is not one of those 12. The 22nd pick this past April, Harvin has had his share of drama already this off-season, and he's missed the Vikings' first day of Training Camp already. Considering that the players that were drafted at #21 (Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack) and #23 (Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher) have already signed their deals, one would think that it wouldn't be a terribly arduous task to get a deal done for the former Gator speedster.

Yes, one would think that. Of course, if one thought that, one would be wrong, apparently. According to Pro Football Talk

As we understand it, the Vikes have big plans for Harvin in 2009 -- and Harvin knows it. And in the immediate aftermath of the Brett Favre fiasco, signing Harvin would help to change the atmosphere in Mankato -- and Harvin knows it.

Through it all, Childress is embarking on the most important season of his coaching career -- and Harvin knows it.

So even with the high and the low of the slotting system set by the contracts paid to the players drafted just before and just after the 22nd pick, Harvin is in a position to put his thumb on the scale -- and the Vikings know it.

If this is really what's happening. . .man, I hardly have the words.

What Percy Harvin and his agent, Joel Segal, need to realize is that the most important thing for Percy Harvin right now is to get Percy Harvin's ass into camp and let him start getting worked into the offense. Does Harvin have Top 10 talent? He sure does. Guess what? So did a certain wide receiver the Vikings drafted in the early 20s of a draft in the late 90s. What was the guy's name again? Reggie. . .Ronald. . .Randy! That's it! Randy Moss! Remember that guy? Remember when he held out of Training Camp as a rookie?

Yeah, neither do I. . .probably because it never happened. He did that whole crazy "go out and prove it on the field" thing, and all he got for it was a contract that made him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history when his rookie deal was up.

So, Harvin and Segal need to pull their heads out and get this done. The floor and ceiling have been set in this case by Oher and Mack. Harvin shouldn't get a deal that exceeds Mack's, and he and Segel shouldn't expect to.

Hopefully there will be lots of good stuff from Mankato today. Whatever it is, we'll have it right here. Have a good Saturday, ladies and gentlemen!

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Behind the 8-Ball

Harvin’s already got questionable baggage and so far he’s picking up more at every step along the way. I really hope this isn’t a sign of things to come and that he settles in and demonstrates some work ethic to go with the ability.

Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!

by DCPurple on Aug 1, 2009 8:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Snowball effect? No thats premature.

The fact that he tested positive for MJ has magnified each step he takes. Peterson missed the first 5 days of his rookie camp b/c negotiations took longer than expected. You don’t hear people mention that. Harvin will be signed by Tuesday. No need to worry. I hope.

GregP

by VikesPma on Aug 1, 2009 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rookie WRs

seldom (unless they’re future HOFers like Moss) have a big impact. Jerry Rice was awful his first year (couldn’t hold onto the ball). Harvin needs to get his li’l butt into camp.

by VikingBillArlingtonVA on Aug 1, 2009 9:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You guys are so right about him.

As if it isn’t hard enough, going from the college scene to the NFL. He just seems to be making life harder on himself than need be. He just keeps screwing up at every step of the process.You guys need to get a hold of Chris Carter, and have him smack Harvin around for a min to get the cob-webs outta his head. I understand that he is probably sore about not being one of the first 2 WR’s picked in the draft, but that should fuel a fire for him to want to get into camp and prove that he was overlooked by all those teams that passed him by. If I’m not wrong here, I beleave that was one of the biggest reasons that fueled the fire that dandy Randy Moss used his rookie year.

by davis0169 on Aug 1, 2009 9:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not just floor and ceiling

Picks 20-26 have all signed except Percy. Not on is there a floor and ceiling in place, there’s a fairly accurate growth pattern established too. This should be done today, no excuses.

by Cobra312004 on Aug 1, 2009 9:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good day boy's and girl's.......

Today, we are gonna talk football…….can you say football? I knew you could…..

Can you say highly drafted rookie……..very good………

Can you say drafted rookie with past issue’s………….excellent, I knew you could do it……..

Now, let’s pretend that Prince Tuesday has been having a scary dream about contract holdout……….can you say that? Contract Holdout? Let’s get on the trolley to Make Believe land where he would be signed and ready for a 2,000 yard season………..

Disclaimer: I work for PBS, so shouldnt get me in trouble! hehehe Not insulting anyone here, just poking fun at the situation. Lastly, Some may remember but I did voice my concerns about the kid before the draft.

"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk"

by VikesFaninNM on Aug 1, 2009 10:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Can we stop comparing Harvin to Moss? Harvin isn’t the player Moss was or became. They are entirely separate players that need to be viewed in different context.

With that said someone get his ass in camp, now.

Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute

by mjschaefer on Aug 1, 2009 1:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The only reason they are compared is because of their similarites at draft time.

Moss was a top-10 talent who slid to the Vikings at pick # 21 because of some off the field issues.

Harvin is a top-10 talent who slid to the Vikings at pick # 22 because of some off the field issues.

That is where the similarities end.

Moss was a freak of nature. Runs a sub-4.3 fourty, 6’4", can leap out of his shoes and catch anything thrown his way.

Harvin is a semi-freak of nature. Runs a 4.3 fourty, 5’11" and is about as explosive as any player on the field.

by Bjorno on Aug 1, 2009 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t view Harvin as a top-10 talent. I hope he makes me eat those words but I still hate this pick.

Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute

by mjschaefer on Aug 1, 2009 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It will take til week 3, then you will want to by his jersey

We got the o-lineman we needed in the second round. I think I may take Loadholt over Oher. Oher is the only other pick they would have made at that point. Go Percy.

Bernard, Percy and AP oh my!

by VikesPma on Aug 3, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Loadholt but I don’t think he’s better than Oher. I won’t ever buy a Harvin jersey, if only because I never wear jerseys. On top of that rookie receivers rarely make a big splash their first season.

Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute

by mjschaefer on Aug 3, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

NFL.com has a nifty chart that shows which rookies have and have not signed deals, if anyone is curious. it’s true that percy is the only pick between 20 and 26 that hasn’t signed, but he’s also one of 14 first rounders yet to ink a deal (out of 32), and one of 4 first-round WRs that have yet to ink a deal (out of 6).

by Natty Bumppo on Aug 1, 2009 5:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah,

I think that’s what the hold up is. The WRs haven’t been signed yet. The positions ahead and behind him are linemen, not skill players. I also think that Maclin isn’t signed yet either. You can bet that if that deal gets done, the Harvin one should fall into place shortly there-after. If I’m wrong though, I simply don’t know what the hold up is.

by Frost on Aug 1, 2009 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He might just be waiting to see what Maclin and Crabtree get.

by Bjorno on Aug 1, 2009 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meh, if we put our Viking Fandom aside for a moment

I don’t see how we can blame the guy. Everything in the OP about “and Harvin knows it” is true. It should give him a bit of extra leverage. And a few extra dollars. If it drags on beyond Maclin and Crabtree and most of the other first rounders, then we can cry.

by ajmargarine on Aug 1, 2009 10:16 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs