Harvin wants out

[Scott M]

Associated Press

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Star receiver Percy Harvin wants out of Minnesota.

One day after expressing frustration over several unspecified issues with the Vikings, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Harvin has requested a trade. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Harvin voiced frustration with the Vikings on Tuesday at the first day of mandatory minicamp. He did not say what his specific issues were with the team, only saying that he was unhappy with several things and wanted them addressed before training camp begins at the end of July.

"I just put it this way, there's a lot of different things that have to be sorted out," Harvin said on Tuesday. "Just haven't been really happy lately. We've got a couple of things to work on. I'm here in the classroom. We'll go from there."

Given Harvin's status as a 24-year-old rising star and one of the team's top players, the request is unlikely to be granted. Coach Leslie Frazier said on Tuesday that he was confident any issues Harvin had could be resolved well before training camp.

"I really feel like when he and I sit down and talk in depth," Frazier said, "whatever is in his heart or on his mind, we'll get through it."

Harvin, who is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, worked out with the team during an afternoon practice on Tuesday and said later in the day that he did not want to be a distraction and would only wanted to talk about football issues.

He was the team's first-round draft pick in 2009 and has quickly emerged as perhaps the team's most versatile and dynamic player. He is the team's only proven commodity at receiver heading into his fourth season and is coming off a year in which he posted career highs in receptions (87), yards (967) and total touchdowns with nine.

Harvin has two years left on his rookie contract, but it was not immediately clear how much that had to do with his displeasure, if at all. The Vikings are coming off of consecutive last-place finishes in the NFC North and have entered a rebuilding phase centered around Harvin, Adrian Peterson, who is recovering from a torn ACL, and second-year quarterback Christian Ponder.

Earlier this offseason, Harvin pledged to be a team leader and showed up at several voluntary practices despite still recovering from having bone chips removed from his shoulder. With a receiver corps that includes rookie fourth-rounders Greg Childs and Jarius Wright and unproven veteran Jerome Simpson, who will be suspended for the first three games, Harvin is the only proven game-breaker on the perimeter for the Vikings.

"I'm going to be honest with you guys. I've been watching tape, but it's just working on things from last year," Harvin said when asked about the offense. "I'm into it, but like I said, I'm not happy with things, so I haven't really been in tune to (personnel) and stuff right now.

"Overall, just watching game film and breaking down quarterbacks, breaking down myself, defenses I may face that I faced last year, things like that."

[Jim Panfish Uran]

stay healthy and get paid..... not that hard of a concept.

[leech~~]

I'm not seeing the "He wants out" part? Seems like he just wants to get some issues like all players have worked out!

[SkunkedAgain]

There was another report that I read saying that he requested a trade this morning. Whatever. The guy has no leverage. He's shown great promise as a receiver, but the Vikings use him incorrectly and he hasn't broken out as a premier receiver. At most he is the best at the top of a pile of garbage receivers (so far). He's coming off shoulder surgery, has a history of missing games due to migraines, and now he thinks that he can force a trade? Crazy. The dude is sniffing glue and listening to nutty family members.

He needs to be living in Ponder's back yard, catch footballs, hotdogs, remote controls, golf balls....anything that Ponder throws so that he can be a great receiver and "get paid."

[SkunkedAgain]

Wide receiver Percy Harvin has requested a trade from the Minnesota Vikings, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation.

The Associated Press first reported the news.

The Vikings aren't expected to trade away one of their best assets who is scheduled to make $915,000 next season, the fourth of a five-year, $12.05-million rookie deal.

But Harvin expressed frustration in vague terms to reporters at a Tuesday, June 19, minicamp workout, and speculation persists that it's contract-related. He might want an extension. Basically, he said he's not happy, and that issues "definitely" need to be resolved before training camp July 26.

Coach Leslie Frazier expressed confidence in just that on Tuesday. But that was before news of the trade request.

[amateurfishing]

if a trade is immently neccessary to Harvin, Vikings should only accept a first or second rounder, he is a great value for orgainization at this time

.....otherwise Vikings can force his hand and let him make decision to hold out or not play as that attitude will kill him in free agency in 2 years and actually learn to play a whole season b4 making threats, though he is a workhorse and has played injured quite a bit.

he is an underpaid former rookie of the year & best receiver (not even close) on the team but has a couple of growing up issues to conquer first

im sure this is all agent forced, just like when chilly's agent forced the issue with chillys extension after the NFC championship game that was not deserved based on on the field success, same situation applys here. his agent thinks he is underpaid and the only decent wr on the team (which is true) so agent wants his client (and himself) to get paid b4 client has any major injuries or issues b4 this season starts.

[Scott K]

Health issues? He has missed 3 games in 3 years, I wouldnt really consider that an issue. He is being held back, and I would be complaining as well. He almost had a 1000 yrd season last year, with being held back. I would be telling him if he has a good year this year, he will be rewarded with a big contract, in which he will have deserved.

[toughguy]

So much for the Cheech (Harvin) and Chong (Simpson) Wideout tandem. In all seriousness odds are 98% that he'll be back next year. With 2 years left on his contract and a surgery this off season there's little chance they'll trade him. If he can suck it up for at least one more year then maybe next year he'll either get the new contract or the trade he's looking for.

[MUSKY18]

Health issues? He has missed 3 games in 3 years, I wouldnt really consider that an issue. He is being held back, and I would be complaining as well. He almost had a 1000 yrd season last year, with being held back. I would be telling him if he has a good year this year, he will be rewarded with a big contract, in which he will have deserved.

Where did you find that stat? He may have not dressed for only 3 games, but will bet dollars to doughnuts that there were many more games where he was nothing more than a spectator on the sidelines. Besides games, how many practices did he miss, not take part in? Hard to build a connection with a QB when you aren't practicing and playing time is limited because of injury. I agree that he is under paid, but get your but on the field and show for an entire season what you are capable of doing and then in the off season get your BIG pay day. If he wants to talk the talk, he needs to be able to walk the walk on the field

[flipper]

I too would like to know where this three game in three years stat came from.

[LMITOUT]

I'm shocked. Harvin has NEVER been a distraction to the team. This is such a surprise.

Vindication in 3...2...1....

[Scott K]

I too would like to know where this three game in three years stat came from.

[PierBridge]

Obviously his Mauer-ish physical issues are a HUGE deal in any trade. I can't imagine we've had a player ever that has missed as much practice as Harvin has. Like stated above thats a killer when it comes to chemistry with the offense.

I don't expect us to move him, in-spite of him being a tool he has loads of talent.

[mrklean]

stadium issue finally solved now a Harvin issue im glad im a packer fan and all i had to worry about was Donald Driver winning dancing with the stars

[flipper]

Scott, I guess according to what I see he only missed 3 games. It sure seemed like he was out of action for more than that. My mistake. At this point I have to wonder if you want someone who is so disgruntled on the team, it doesn't make for such good chemistry in the locker room.

[MUSKY18]

Thats where the leaders on the team need to step up and tell him that his personal needs have to be left in the locker room, and his play on the field needs to speak volumes if he wants a trade/new contract. Above all else, he is still a player getting paid and if he doesn't want to play, fine him game checks and sit him on the bench. How much will his stock go up then? Is he going to turn into another TO and get passed from team to team and end up playing in the Arena League?

[Scott K]

I am sure what ever issues he has will be worked out ASAP. He is a key player to the future of this team. There is no way we trade him, if it is even about a contract issue, it is in his best issue to play out this year the best he can without injury, break the 1000 yrd mark, then ask for a raise. I think it has a lot more to do with play selection then anything else.

I thought he missed more games as well, I know he hasnt been to to many practices, but he is one hell of a game day player, practice or not. I would take 11 men on the field that play with the will he has, over someone who lives at practices, that play at 50%

[FISHINGURU]

He'll get a new contract before the season starts.

Pretty sure he's only going to make 900k this season, that's the issue. He's worth much more then 900k to this team.

[Scott K]

Quote:

Vikings GM Rick Spielman stated adamantly Wednesday that the team is not interested in trading Percy Harvin.

"We have no interest at all in trading Percy Harvin," Spielman said. The Vikings simply shouldn't. Harvin is easily their top playmaker on offense with Adrian Peterson mending from a torn ACL and MCL, and he's young (24), cheap ($915,000), and a must-have for developing second-year signal caller Christian Ponder. Spielman should still expect to be inundated with phone calls about Harvin. There isn't a team in the league that couldn't use him.

[PierBridge]

Agreed we won't trade him and there is a ZERO percent chance he gets a New contract before the season starts in-spite of him being vastly underpaid.

[Spike76]

Looks like more headaches for Harvin. Live up to your contract, and if you do well, maybe someone will give you more money. The Vikings have been more than fair with Harvin. If he attended all the camps and practices, and didn't miss any games, maybe he would deserve a new contract.

[flipper]

Might be a good time to dump him.

[toughguy]

He actually had a good deal for the first few years. It was front loaded so odds were there was a better chance of him collecting more $. On avg. most players don't make it to their 4th year. If he had a back loaded contract and got hurt or cut in his second year he would have been shorted. Percy and his agent made the deal and it was a good deal at the beginning of his career. Now they need to live with the flip side. He will be paid in 1-2 years either by MN or by another team.

[rundrave]

Pretty sure he's only going to make 900k this season, that's the issue. He's worth much more then 900k to this team.

he signed a five-year, $12.05 million contract. He got most of it up front that's why he is only getting $900k

[fishersofmen]

Yea but 12 mil.....how can the guy even feed his kids on that? This is what society has created by paying hundreds of dollars to watch a game. The end result is a bunch of puffed up spoiled brats who can never get enough.

[ted4887]

I can't imagine we've had a player ever that has missed as much practice as Harvin has.

Practice?

[Scott K]

Quote:

Citing a source with knowledge of the situation, Profootballtalk.com reports that Percy Harvin's unhappiness in Minnesota is not contract related.

Harvin essentially tweeted confirmation of PFT's report on Wednesday evening. "I said I have issues to be worked out," Harvin wrote. "Money not at all being the problem. I've done everything asked and more." Harvin may be referring to his on-field role in Bill Musgrave's offense. He only played 58.4 percent of the Vikings' snaps in 2011, and was on the sideline for many red-zone packages.

[Hory]

As long as the Vikings continue to build their teams with players that have "me first" personalities...they will continue to be the doormat of the NFC North. I'd rather have an over-the-hill Donald Driver who puts the ego aside, and cares more about the team's success.

[traveler]

As long as the Vikings continue to build their teams with players that have "me first" personalities...they will continue to be the doormat of the NFC North. I'd rather have an over-the-hill Donald Driver who puts the ego aside, and cares more about the team's success.

So would I, but lets see how this plays out before we lump Percy into the "Randy Moss" camp.

It could well be that since we're losing badly, he's getting frustrated at his lack of action in the current offensive scheme, and i tend to agree with him there. I'd lilke to see a guy with his skills on the field more that 58 % of the time.

[mnviking28]

+1 Traveler. If you are a competitor and really want to win, and you know you can be helping the team on the field, to be standing on the sideline for almost half the time your team has the ball has to be ultra frustrating. He has come out and said it isn't money related. If it isn't money related, what is left? Offensive style of the team and the way he is used on the field. You stand on the sideline while they play guys like Camarillo, Burton and Aromashodu? If they offer something that you don't, I would understand that. But, he knows that he is better on one leg than they are on two.

He wasn't used as much on kicks last year so they could work on the Marcus Sherels/Lorenzo Booker project, he stood on the sideline half of the time on offense, I could see someone with a competitive nature and wanting to win being unhappy with all of that.