What comes next for Anthony Harris and the Vikings?
By Dean Jones
Could Harris hold out?
Anthony Harris may opt to take drastic measures and hold out during this year’s OTAs with the Vikings after being given the franchise tag.
Given the character of Harris though, this seems unlikely. But it is an increasing trend in the NFL due to the amount of disdain that comes with playing on a forced one-year contract.
No player likes risking themselves out on the field without having long-term security behind them from a contractual perspective. If they get hurt at any stage, it could see them potentially lose millions going forward.
Holding out of camp could hurt Harris’ ability to make a telling contribution for Minnesota in 2020. Missing too much preparation is disastrous and it can take a player weeks to get up to speed. It would have significant repercussions once competitive action gets underway.
Harris has remained humble after rising from an undrafted prospect to a Pro Bowl-caliber safety. He is also a highly motivated individual that has the respect of the Vikings locker room. This is not something he will want to jeopardize by holding out and putting the team’s chances of a postseason return at risk.
This is a tricky situation, but given Harris is already due to get a raise on his 2019 salary of more than $8 million, then it seems unlikely he would go down the holdout route. It is far from ideal, but Harris knows that it is the business of the NFL and he should conduct himself accordingly.