Vikes' Harvin situation gets more confounding
By Len Pasquarelli
The Sports Xchange
Since even close associates of Percy Harvin were confused this week by the wide receiver's one-day boycott of the Minnesota minicamp -- other than to say that the absence was not contract-related -- the source of the three-year veteran's unhappiness with his situation is curious.
Compounding the confusion was the Friday morning report for Twin Cities-area media outlets that Harvin, the 22nd choice in the 2009 draft, plans to spend time working out with Vikings' second-year quarterback Christian Ponder before camp opens next month. About the only thing clear in the whole episode is that the team has no plans to trade Harvin, whose reception and yardage totals have increased every season in the league, and who remains one of the NFL's most versatile offensive performers.
There was some thought originally that Harvin preferred to play one position, wide receiver, but two people close to him insists he likes the intermittent stretches he gets at tailback (52 carries in 2011) and enjoys kickoff returns as well. Harvin has two seasons remaining on his contract, at base salaries of $915,000 for 2012 and at least $1.55 million in 2013 (could climb to as much as $3.3 million with escalators and "reachable" bonuses), and Minnesota officials definitely are not inclined to sweeten the deal at this time.
Which means that Harvin's problem will likely remain just that, Harvin's problem, for now. He has hinted that he plans to be in camp on time and has, apparently, not spoken at length to his associates about any grievances with the organization.
