Vikings Top 10 Training Camp Storylines: #9 – Percy Harvin Watch

TVA previews the 10 storylines that will be consuming our lives starting on July 26 when the Vikings report to Mankato (full camp schedule now available from Vikings.com).

9. Percy Harvin Watch

We have sort-of breaking news on the Percy Harvin watch. Adam Schefter just tweeted that, according to a team source, the slightly disgruntled receiver plans to report to training camp on time (no guarantees that he’ll actually do anything once he gets there). Since no one ever indicated anything to the contrary, including Percy who has been all duckies and bunnies since having his little sit-down with Rick Spielman and Leslie Frazier, we’re not sure how to characterize Schefter’s report. Is it a confirmation or merely a useless report? This is why I’m not a journalist.

We now return to our regularly scheduled Vikings Top 10 Training Camp Storylines post…

Percy Harvin became THE story of Vikings’ minicamp when, out of the clear blue, he reportedly requested that the team trade him, citing “issues” that he didn’t care to elaborate on. This story wended its way from weird to bizarre over the course of a couple of days before finally fizzling out. We still don’t really know what Percy was mad about but it was probably a combination of contract annoyance and being irked about his lack of touches in the offense last year. Given the way Percy backed off – conveniently blaming the media in the process – we can only assume these issues were cleared up.

So, really, what need is there for a Percy Harvin watch? Shouldn’t we assume Percy will be happy throughout training camp? We can assume that, but here’s the problem: we thought Percy was happy going into minicamp too. And then all of a sudden he wasn’t. That’s just how it is with Percy. He’s mercurial. Moody. A bit of a little b-word. However you want to say it, the result is the same: you can never be 100% sure what Percy is going to say or do next. The smallest thing could set him off.

Reporters know full-well what a sensitive fellow Percy is, so even if they have no reason to suspect something might be amiss with him, they’re still going to be on the look-out. Any sign of disgruntlement will immediately be tweeted to the world and discussed at length by the various Twin Cities radio personalities. Percy is now, officially, the Vikings’ Diva-in-Residence, as his homie Randy Moss was before him. So it’s always going to be a little bit of a ride with Percy. You just have to hope his production justifies the, um, headache.

How I Hope This Will Play Out:

Percy will show up, say all the right things, put his helmet on and go out and practice. And practice the next day and even the next day. And then maybe skip a couple practices cause he’s feeling quesy. And then come back to practice. And eventually the season will start and he’ll tear it up on the field.

How I Hope This Will NOT Play Out:

Reporting day arrives and, what the heck, no Percy. But Schefter said he’d be here right? Percy’s agent releases a statement saying Percy’s issues are still issues, therefore his client will not be reporting. And what are these issues? Percy still doesn’t want to say but it’s NOT money. It’s everything in the world EXCEPT money. If anyone says it’s money they’re nothing but a lying liar. Which of course will indicate to everyone that it’s money.

Next Up: #8 – Setting the Defensive Line Depth Chart

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