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For some time, the relationship between the Minnesota Vikings and electrifying wide receiver Percy Harvin has been bitter at best.
The rumor mill began to churn last off-season when talk of Harvin demanding a trade cropped up. There appeared to be some tension between him and head coach Leslie Frazier, but the rumor was squashed and all appeared to be back to normal. Midway through the 2012 season, though, problems arose yet again after the Vikings placed Harvin on Injured Reserve, ending his year even though his injured ankle was on the mend.
Now, heading into the final year of his rookie contract, it seems as though Harvin is ready to try his luck elsewhere. The tear in the relationship appeared to be sewn up, but instead a slight seam has become a gaping hole after a reported blow up between Frazier and Harvin that caused the pass-catcher to land on the IR.
According to Mike Max of CBS Minnesota, as a result of the confrontation, the Vikings will attempt to trade Harvin this off-season.
Not only has their showdown caused a distance between coach and player, but it also seems as if Harvin’s teammates have become disconnected with the star receiver. After being present to the argument, many of the Vikings players were disappointed in his actions. Especially with General Manager Rick Spielman making an effort to fill his roster with character players, Harvin is looking like less and less of a fit as the Vikings move forward.
There could be plenty of potential suitors for Harvin, who is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the entire NFL. The biggest question would be whether or not the Vikings could get a significant return for him.
With the news breaking that the two parties are at an impass, the Vikings have little leverage. Teams know at this point that Minnesota needs to just unload Harvin, and will look to give up much less value than they would be getting in return. Potential trade partners will also be wary of Harvin’s apparently-volatile character, which will cause some hesitation. If the Vikings are lucky, they’ll get a second-round pick and a complimentary player or two out of the deal.
It’s sad to see this situation reach its boiling point. The Vikings need a player as dangerous as Harvin on their offense to help lure opposing defenses away from Adrian Peterson. With him out of the picture, though, the outlook for the Minnesota offense gets cloudy heading into the 2013 season.
Gil Alcaraz IV is a Network Manager/NFL featured columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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