Wow, What A BUST!!

[FISHINGURU 1]

MANKATO, Minn. (AP)—Percy Harvin watched an undrafted rookie receiver chase down a deep ball, slow up on his route and try to outjump the smaller cornerback for a pass that fell incomplete.

“Hey 1-5! 1-5!” Harvin hollered at No. 15, Andre Holmes(notes), as he jogged back up the sideline.

Harvin beckoned him over and had a quiet and brief conversation before the next play.

“A lot of those guys want a jump ball instead of running underneath it so that’s just one of the little things I know I did a lot,” Harvin said Saturday. “You always want to jump because you feel like you can get it. So just the little things that I struggled with to help those guys and make it smoother. I want these guys to be around. I want them on this team bad.

One of the most pleasant surprises in Vikings coach Leslie Frazier’s hectic, post-lockout world has been watching Harvin. The receiver was once dogged by character questions that caused him to slip in the draft, but he emerged as a vocal leader and emotional tone-setter early in training camp.

The dynamic Harvin is entering his third season, and so far the only thing that has been able to slow him down are recurring migraine headaches that he hopes are finally under control. With Sidney Rice gone to Seattle, Harvin is now the unquestioned leader of Donovan McNabb’s unsung receiver corps.

“I’ll tell you there is no way that I would have predicted over this lockout that Percy would have come back taking a leadership role that he has,” Frazier said. “From the moment the lockout was lifted and we could contact players, it’s been refreshing just talking to him and just seeing his attitude about this season.

“The fact that he’s leading, he’s talking to other players, explaining to them what needs to be done, how things are done.”

Harvin isn’t taking the responsibility lightly. When the lockout was finally lifted, he was the first one to roll into Vikings headquarters to meet with his new offensive coordinator and new teammates. Frazier said he was also among the first to take the team physical and head down to training camp in Mankato.

“I mean wow,” Frazier said. “This is what you want from one of your star players. He’s having a very good camp and it’s exciting for us to see as a staff him stepping into that leadership role. We need that from him.”

The speedy Florida Gators wideout slipped to No. 22 in the first round in 2009 after a positive test for marijuana at the NFL combine turned some general managers away. Harvin never shied away from taking responsibility for his mistake, and he has been the model teammate through the first two years in the NFL.

He won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and made the Pro Bowl as an all-purpose demon in 2009, but missed two games last year with migraines and was troubled by the team’s 6-10 finish.

Unhappy with what he saw on the field and in the locker room, Harvin said he came into 2011 determined to be more vocal and assertive.

“I think that’s just what this team needs,” Harvin said. “I think maybe last year we got away from it a little bit. But I think this year as far as the receiving group, me, Bernard (Berrian), for those guys to follow our lead would be good for this team. I just want to go out there and do the best I can and hopefully those guys follow and all of us can become great and help this team.”

With Berrian coming off a down season and free agents Michael Jenkins and Devin Aromashodu not exactly conjuring images of Randy Moss(notes) in his prime, Harvin is expected to be the No. 1 target for McNabb.

“He’s the bully on the block,” receivers coach George Stewart said. “He’s a guy that has outstanding physical toughness. Everything you want in a receiver, Percy Harvin has. He’s smart, he’s tough, he can catch the ball. He can run. He’s very fast. He’s physical.”

The only thing he might be missing is a few more inches on his powerful frame.

At 5-foot-11, Harvin doesn’t have the size of a prototypical No. 1 receiver. But if there is any quarterback equipped to overcome that, it’s McNabb. Other than his brief tag team with Terrell Owens, McNabb has always seemed to work with undersized pass catchers.

“I’ve played with guys who play big but are of shorter stature who have been so successful,” McNabb said. “You talk about guys like DeSean Jackson, Santana Moss. There’s no reason why Percy can’t be a guy who is a perennial Pro Bowler as a starter at the receiver position. Over 1,000 yards receiving and 80 to 90, 100 catches.”

The Vikings also expect to use the versatile Harvin in the backfield and on kick returns, so he will have plenty of opportunities to put his fingerprints on the new offense.

“The key is getting him his touches to let him do his thing,” offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said.

Now his thing includes so much more than just putting the ball in the end zone. Everyone is looking at him to set the tempo, indoctrinate the youngsters and speak up when it’s needed.

“When he came in, he was kind of quiet because we had Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian, Bobby Wade, we had some older guys,” Stewart said. “Now he’s looked at as that guy. He’s our Pro Bowler. We look at him as our bail-out guy.”

Still only 23, Harvin readily admits he has a long way to go himself. He still regularly consults with Moss and other veterans who have helped him early in his career, looking for tips and insight that he can pass on to the rest of his teammates.

“There’s always learning to do,” Harvin said. “But we’re going to get it.”

[B. Amish 0]

what's your point?

[FISHINGURU 1]

You must be a little behind on the forum?

[LMITOUT 29]

Tim Brewster was a cheerleader too. Look where that got him...

[Steve Foss 0]

Where's the "bust" in this thread? I'm kinda scratching my head. Unless it's sarcasm. One rarely knows for sure on forums unless a fella telegraphs his punch.

[RumRiverRat 0]

Is Cheech Harvin laying off the weed this year?

[mrklean 100]

he cant or else his headaches comes back

[FISHINGURU 1]

I hope he doesn't lay off it, all the great players burn.

[ozzie 82]

of course they do it slows down the game for them.....haha

[FISHINGURU 1]

LOL, yep.

Thats why they say it takes 3 seasons for WR's to become good and understand the game. Percy has been on fire since day 1.

[zepman 0]

+1!!

[Big Tom 0]

Where's the "bust" in this thread? I'm kinda scratching my head. Unless it's sarcasm. One rarely knows for sure on forums unless a fella telegraphs his punch.

Prolly a response to one of LMit's amateurish trolls that Harvin is a bust. Look at the stats and impact of all of those taken before him and decide if LMit got it WRONG AGAIN.

[Steve Foss 0]

Prolly a response to one of LMit's amateurish trolls that Harvin is a bust. Look at the stats and impact of all of those taken before him and decide if LMit got it WRONG AGAIN.

If so, that makes LMIT an accomplished troller, not an amateurish one. OR the fish are too stupid to ignore the same presentation over and over and over again. I guess that makes them the hammerhandles of the sports forums if they keep lunging at the same old red eye wiggler spoon retrieved the same old steady way.

If the fish ignore a tired presentation, the angler will have to change tactics, eh? Ignore all those tactics long enough and the angler will eventually give up and go fish a different pond, or join the fish.

I agree Harvin's the real deal. I wish my Packers had him and AP. We'd be well nigh unstoppable. Those two fellas oughta wise up and realize they'll never win a Super Bowl where they are. Come to Green Bay, Percy and Adrian, and start feeling the love!

[Big Tom 0]

Hard to argue with anything you said there Steve. LMit rings the bell for a lot of dogs here. I call an amateurish troll one which shows the ignorance of the troll instead of those that leap for the bait. I think he honestly believes Percy was a reach when he was drafted. Silly.

[Steve Foss 0]

LMit rings the bell for a lot of dogs here. I call an amateurish troll one which shows the ignorance of the troll instead of those that leap for the bait. I think he honestly believes Percy was a reach when he was drafted. Silly.

Agree almost completely. Almost because I'm sure LMIT, who is quite intelligent and sensible, probably saw Harvin's potential all along, and knew he was a smart pick. That wouldn't stop a troller from dangling a lure, however, would it?

It takes two to consummate stupid. Dumb presentation, dumb fish. Who's to blame? Hmmmm. An angler is all about efficiency. The angler keeps simplifying his/her presentation until it costs him/her fish, then bumps it back up a notch. LMIT hasn't yet had to bump it back up in order to catch his limit.

As an aside, were you a Fat Tire drinker before Fat Tire became cool and mass produced?

[LMITOUT 29]

If you would bother to recall, so did many other organizations. That's why he fell as far as he did. They didn't want to deal with his history of drug abuse and personality issues.

He could be an outstanding player and not so much of a team distraction if he would practice on a regular basis. How can a team be successful when the pieces aren't in place for the majority of the week and a questionmark come game time? He may have decent individual statistics but there is a larger underlying story here that people can't or won't acknowledge and all the statistics in the world can't cover up. Until he starts showing up on a regular basis he'll continue to be a distraction that this team cannot afford to have. Maybe he is part of the reason for the move away from the west coast offense where timing routes are key?? Hard to get that timing down when he's never there to practice...

[Big Tom 0]

As an aside, were you a Fat Tire drinker before Fat Tire became cool and mass produced?

Yes and Bells and Shiner and Rogue and a bunch of others. My job has allowed me to travel extensively and I try to hit Microbreweries for client dinners or at least sample the local fare wherever I am.

That said I really don't like New Belgium's latest summer beers. I prefer Trippel, Abbey and Mighty Arrow.

I moved away from quantity to quality about 10 years ago and my palate and liver have never been happier.

[Steve Foss 0]

My job has allowed me to travel extensively and I try to hit Microbreweries for client dinners or at least sample the local fare wherever I am.

You are truly blessed. As we all are by the upsurge in microbrews these last couple of decades.

And remember, all, moderation doesn't only apply to beer consumption, but to responding to trolls.

[Big Tom 0]

If you would bother to recall, so did many other organizations. That's why he fell as far as he did. They didn't want to deal with his history of drug abuse and personality issues.

He could be an outstanding player and not so much of a team distraction if he would practice on a regular basis. How can a team be successful when the pieces aren't in place for the majority of the week and a questionmark come game time? He may have decent individual statistics but there is a larger underlying story here that people can't or won't acknowledge and all the statistics in the world can't cover up. Until he starts showing up on a regular basis he'll continue to be a distraction that this team cannot afford to have. Maybe he is part of the reason for the move away from the west coast offense where timing routes are key?? Hard to get that timing down when he's never there to practice...

A fair analysis.

That said, distraction or no, this offense and A.P. are at their best prduction when Harvin is playing; and he has done so effectively many times with no practice. He creates big problems for defenses out of the flanker spot. It's hard to shadow him because LB's can't stay with him and if you put D-Backs on him near the line it opens seams for others. Further he has good toughness for a a guy with migraine history and for his size.

Given where we got him, I think he was a steal. Of course for every Moss, Peterson and Harvin they have had there's Rudd's, Udeze's, Williamson's and of course Underwood's. High risk, High reward has produced more ups than huge stinkers for the purple overall. It's everywhere else this organization stinks.

[Steve Foss 0]

I rest my case.

[Big Tom 0]

You are truly blessed. As we all are by the upsurge in microbrews these last couple of decades.

True that. I have had my share of Pfeiffer's, Cold Spring's, Buckhorn's and Schmidts. I don't consider myself a beer snob, but I would much rather spend $10 on a quality six pack than $15 for a case of swill.

[Big Tom 0]

I rest my case.

Lmit and I do agree on the key point about the Vikings: 50 years of Futility.

I watched them from 1970 until Denny ordered the taking of the knee in '98 against the Falcons. I then swore off them for good. These youngsters have no idea how bad it can get.

[Steve Foss 0]

I would much rather spend $10 on a quality six pack than $15 for a case of swill.

Hmmmm. That message might apply right here in River City. Or not.

[FISHINGURU 1]

If all goes well Percy and AP are gonna have a career year this season. It will be interesting to see how a Coordinator that understands what they have will put them to use.

[LMITOUT 29]

Bump.