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Childress meets with Percy Harvin


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http://blogs.startribune.com/vikingsblog/?

 

Report: Childress meets with Harvin

April 23rd, 2009 – 2:16 PM by Judd Zulgad It appears the Vikings are extremely serious about taking Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin with the 22nd pick in the first round of Saturday’s draft.

 

The latest indication of the team’s interest in Harvin came on Wednesday when Vikings coach Brad Childress reportedly spent the day at the University of Florida meeting with Harvin. Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman declined to confirm the report by the National Football Post at a news conference this afternoon at Winter Park. Childress also would not comment.

 

“What I would say is if you’re doing that, just in general, if a team is going out to do stuff, they’re doing just some last-minute things,” Spielman said. “There’s a couple of teams that are out this week. You can’t bring the players into the facility. That ended last week. So the only chance you get to go out if there was something that popped up in a meeting or something you definitely wanted to confirm. Then you have to go out to where that player is. So a lot of teams will do that this time of year.”

 

Harvin is a guy who many feel has top-10 talent and is a threat as both a receiver and running back. He projects to play wide receiver in the NFL and also is expected to return punts and kicks. But there also are plenty of questions surrounding his character and his injury history. The latest red flag about Harvin’s off-the-field behavior came when it was reported he tested positive for Josh Gordon at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. Spielman said a few weeks back that the Vikings had put a red dot on 78 players — meaning there is absolutely no way they would select them — and admitted that number has grown.

 

However, it doesn’t appear Harvin has been given a red dot yet and Childress’ visit would seem to be an indication there is a good chance the Vikings will take Harvin if he’s there. The Vikings concerns with Harvin, however, go beyond his off-the-field issues.

 

The New York Daily News is reporting that Harvin has undergone multiple surgeries on his on his ankle and foot and has a “hole” in his bone that will require more surgery.

 

As for the amount of due dilligence the Vikings appear to be doing on Harvin, that is nothing new. The team went to great lengths to look into Jared Allen’s background before acquiring the Pro Bowl defensive end last offseason. There were a few red flags surrounding Allen but in the end the Vikings were satisfied he had turned things around and the team got a huge return on its investment of a first and two third-round picks.

 

“We do [extensive background checks] on everybody,” Childress said, “to the nth degree. Whether it’s with the NFL security or whether it’s satisfying our face-to-face meetings or the scouts face-to-face meetings we double back. We’ll see kids at bowl games and see them five or six times where we are trying to get back to get the pulse on who it is, who that person is. Facts are facts and sometimes you don’t go by the facts and sometimes people get second chances like a Jared Allen, like a Fred Evans.”

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Oops...didn't realize Mike already posted this in the Harvin tests positive thread...

 

So is this a smokescreen?

 

A smokescreen? Its idiocy is what it is. This kid is nothing but a headache and leave it to the Vikings to show interest.

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A smokescreen? Its idiocy is what it is. This kid is nothing but a headache and leave it to the Vikings to show interest.

 

 

Disagree. Hanging around guys like Peterson would be good for him.

 

Adding him to the slot in Minny would give opposing teams nightmares.

 

My only concern would be this new ankle "news." First I've heard of any surgeries, and I don't know how one would get a "hole" in the ankle. This is a smokescreen so someone can steal him later in the draft...

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Ditch Man of the Year finalist Matt Birk and bring in Percy Harvin, ignoring the fact that a run-first team has three-fifths of an offensive line that has done absolutely nothing at the pro level. Yeah, that would be a typical Vikings move.

 

The silver lining, I keep telling myself, is that 7-9 probably costs Chilly his job. Just so the Vikings' foibles don't cost Minnesota its team. It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

 

2V

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Have to agree here! A coach met with a player the week before the draft? Have to agree here! That is so stupid!

 

I can't imagine a conversation between these two. They have so much in common that I bet they hit it off really well. Maybe Percy and Chilly lit a few up or Chilly asked where those Florida hookers hang out at.

 

As for playing for the Vikes, I just can't imagine Chilly signing off on this one. Not that he shouldn't but I don't see it.

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Ditch Man of the Year finalist Matt Birk and bring in Percy Harvin, ignoring the fact that a run-first team has three-fifths of an offensive line that has done absolutely nothing at the pro level. Yeah, that would be a typical Vikings move.

 

The silver lining, I keep telling myself, is that 7-9 probably costs Chilly his job. Just so the Vikings' foibles don't cost Minnesota its team. It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

 

2V

 

I hope that dumping Birk comes back to seal Chilly's fate here.

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Granted the Josh Gordon use was idiotic but you guys have the wrong idea of Harvin. Being a gator fan and Florida college student I go to Gainesville quite frequently. I've hungout with a bunch of the players including Harvin and he is a good guy. He's no Tim Tebow but he's dedicated to the game just as he is, and I don't think he will be a problem in the NFL. He will give 110% on the field and will mature fast with players like Peterson showing him the way.

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Ditch Man of the Year finalist Matt Birk and bring in Percy Harvin, ignoring the fact that a run-first team has three-fifths of an offensive line that has done absolutely nothing at the pro level. Yeah, that would be a typical Vikings move.

 

The silver lining, I keep telling myself, is that 7-9 probably costs Chilly his job. Just so the Vikings' foibles don't cost Minnesota its team. It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

 

2V

Good info. Well said.

 

I can't imagine a conversation between these two. They have so much in common that I bet they hit it off really well. Maybe Percy and Chilly lit a few up or Chilly asked where those Florida hookers hang out at.

 

As for playing for the Vikes, I just can't imagine Chilly signing off on this one. Not that he shouldn't but I don't see it.

+1

 

If the Vikes do take him, the whole Code of Conduct and/or Culture of Accountability Chilly was pimping when he came aboard is dead as fried chicken. It may be, anyways, but to make a conscious choice to acquire a player that has not accomplished anything in the NFL but will likely enter it in the League Substance Abuse program will show that there is no real committment to it or teeth behind it. As flat out dumb as some of the players are, they do seem to catch on to mixed messages and double standards and I dont think the Vikes want that.

 

I hope that dumping Birk comes back to seal Chilly's fate here.

I think the fact that Birk took equal money to pack up and leave says a ton about how well he liked playing for Childress. I mean, Birk was at a point in his career where he should have been willing to give a hometown discount, finish his career here and retire a Viking. As a Minnesota guy who has a growing family and business in the area, it would be highly desireable for him to stay home here and play for the Vikes I would think. From what I understand, though, the offer from Baltimore was about the same as the Vikings offer and he chose to upheave his life rather than re-sign here...

 

Granted the Josh Gordon use was idiotic but you guys have the wrong idea of Harvin. Being a gator fan and Florida college student I go to Gainesville quite frequently. I've hungout with a bunch of the players including Harvin and he is a good guy. He's no Tim Tebow but he's dedicated to the game just as he is, and I don't think he will be a problem in the NFL. He will give 110% on the field and will mature fast with players like Peterson showing him the way.
I am sure he's a great guy when he's out having fun. And at Florida, I am sure it was a lot of fun. They won a LOT while he was there.

 

Often times, however, a guy's true character is revealed when things are not going as well. With the Vikings, he would experience things "not going so well" a lot of the time. How's he going to react? He's shown questionable character in the past(according to what I have read) including issues with authority. How well is he going to get along with Chilly and his Culture of Accountability?

 

 

I seem to remember another "troubled" receiver slipping in the draft a few years back. Seems like he's had a pretty good career.

Unfortunately, we all do. And I think too many people are hoping they will strike gold again with Harvin the way they did with Moss.

Edited by Delicious_bass
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I'd much rather look closely at a player who was busted for pot than for steroids. The first is immature. The second shows a lack of character. IMO

 

Of course the first is also pretty stupid given the known testing, but again you do some dumb things when you're young.

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I'd much rather look closely at a player who was busted for pot than for steroids. The first is immature. The second shows a lack of character. IMO

 

Of course the first is also pretty stupid given the known testing, but again you do some dumb things when you're young.

You may be right. For me, I just cant get around the fact that this guy was in line to pretty much win the lottery. All he had to do was behave himself a little bit for a little while and HE COULDNT DO IT. He's known for a long time he was projected to go first round and I am sure he's aware a positive drug test could change that and cost him millions. He knew he'd be tested, and when, and he still chose to smoke up. I will never, ever, ever understand why so many of these clowns put their multi-million dollar careers in jeopardy to smoke friggin Josh Gordon. Is it really that tough to just leave it alone?

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No argument from me. It's a risk. Just have to determine if it's one you're willing to take.

I hear ya. For me, I let someone else take the risk. I think the Vikes have enough needs and are in position to address those without taking as much of a gamble.

 

Its boring, but I agree with those who feel they should see if they can trade down and then take an OT or perhaps CB...

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I seem to remember another "troubled" receiver slipping in the draft a few years back. Seems like he's had a pretty good career.

A few more thoughts on if comparisons can be drawn to back when the Vikes took Moss...

 

Thinking back to that time, Moss was not only a freakish athlete, he was also an elite WR. It was very clear that was his position. The coaching staff in place recognized Moss' ability, and saw they could exploit his talents. By using Moss the way they did, they justified the risk, and kept him somewhat happy cause he was blowing up every week. They helped make it work.

 

With Harvin, he is more of a hybrid player from what I understand. I dont have a lot of faith in the KAO to suddenly change its conservative stripes and exploit this guy's talent. And I dont know if he would stay happy very long if they werent getting him the ball like he's been used to.

 

Also, the Vikes had more of a players' coach when they had Moss. Now, we have Chilly and his monotone, conservative, my way or the highway approach. I dont see Chilly and a guy like Harvin having a good working relationship any more than I would have thought Chilly could have coached Moss back in the day. Looking at Chilly's "body of work" in the NFL, his experience with the only real enigmatic star receiver he's been around did not go well.

 

ETA: KFAN reporting Arizona would trade Boldin for a 2nd in tomorrow's draft. Not sure if this is substantiated at all or not, but if the Vikes are willing to take a risk to get help at WR, that's one I think I would be more on-board with.

Edited by Delicious_bass
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