Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports has been at the forefront of the Percy Harvin story, including a recent report that Harvin nearly walked out on his team last season, and he is tidying up this whole saga by tossing one last dose of fuel onto the fire.
Cole asserts that unhappiness with the Vikings quarterback situation, specifically Christian Ponder, was a primary driver behind Harvin’s desire to leave Minnesota.
According to two sources, the straw that broke the Vikings’ back with Harvin is when he bemoaned the fact that quarterback Christian Ponder, a 2011 first-round pick, was not good enough. That came even though Ponder consistently fed Harvin the ball.
The rumors of a trade seemed to cause unrest within Vikings fan circles. The trade itself seems to have divided them. Now, this report that pins some blame on Ponder may end up causing blogs and message boards to get downright nasty, at least on sites with less refined and civilized readers than we are lucky enough to have here at VT.
Some, like Christopher Gates of the Daily Norseman, will question the report and/or Harvin’s sanity since his production was never as high as it was last season, prior to his injury, with Ponder at quarterback. He was getting manufactured touches, getting touches at running back and on special teams, and was on his way to career highs and MVP consideration before he hurt his ankle in, ironically enough, Seattle.
Others, like this hack blogger who lacks common sense, think that Harvin’s supposed gripes were plenty founded and that Christian Ponder has yet to prove that he has what it takes to lead a championship team. Harvin’s complaints, despite his personal accomplishments, might just prove that he is a fierce competitor that simply wanted to win football games and was willing to speak his mind when he felt somebody was holding the team back.
He might have learned that from Randy Moss, who once told anyone that would listen that Brad Childress should be fired.
I’m not saying that complaining about your young quarterback is a recommended course of action, but I also can’t call Harvin any nasty names because of it when I, myself, was not satisfied with Ponder’s play in 2012.
What we do know is that Ponder has what appears to be the full support of Rick Spielman and his staff. Here’s hoping he doesn’t make them regret that loyalty.
View Comments
For part of the year Ponder was driving me nuts, Well going to give him the benefit of the doubt, He finished strong WITH OUT Percy.
He didn't have a Star studded cast of WR's, Pure and simple go out in FA and Get a Good 2 tier WR. ( Don't see #1 WR worth braking the bank over ) I have to admit I would like the Vikes to spend a 1st round and go after Victor Cruz!
Get him some help early in the draft too.
Hey Charlie! I like Cruz, would love to have him be a Viking. But for a 1st? Hmmm....that's a tough call.
Hey C.C.
One thing to remember is he is proven :)
He is young, Rather have him than the others out there. and be a great asset for Ponder !
I like him too, but a first rounder DOES seem just a bit much...
Turn around and give a first rounder to the Giants and a huge contract to Cruz? I don't think I could get behind that.
Adam,
What would you like?
Harvin.
Lol... Tombs!
Hey old friend, how goes the battle?
Hey,
Things are good on the home front, How about yourself?
Not too shabby, been keeping awfully busy, but the Harvin thing pulled me out of the woodwork. Per prior arrangement, my Harvin jersey on the wall will now be replaced with a Raiders jersey to be yet named for Mrs. Tomb.
Ugh!
Outside of that great!
I'd like a guy with speed and toughness. Maybe a guy versatile enough to take the occasional carry and create great opportunities in the return game. A guy that makes great grabs across the middle of the field and then can bolt up field towards the end zone. A guy that can...
Oh...
Wait.
Yup. Like I said.
One voice.
Now you should REALLY be scared, Monsieur Warwas.
Actually, PC, I'd like to see us aim for a well rounded group of young guys that can hold their own but lots of them. Jarius Wright, Ramses Barden, a guy like Amendola or Gibson, and then a couple of nice rookies. Let them compete and see how things play out, then perhaps make the big investment/splash in 2014.
Not sure that the true game changer is out there... Bowe was the only free agent I felt came close.
Harvin was the best WR that will acquired by any team this offseason, hands down.
Adam,
They probably will go the route you just said, it makes sense.
I guess i'm just a Cruz fan a little. My buddy is a Giants fan so I watch them often.
He;s fun to watch, no doubt!
Adam,
Seattle just gave a 1st, 7th, next years 3rd... for Percy.
I'm sure Percy is going to get a huge contract.
I guess I was looking at it as not too bad, I agree it's a lot.
I guess the good news is, since I'm stuck watching oodles of Seattle games, they'll be awfully interesting this year. Super Bowl contenders, I'm calling it now.
I think Spielman did a nice job of getting us a haul for Harvin, no doubt. But to turn around and spend most of what you got on a guy like Cruz (who hasn't always been the most consistent) scares me more than a bit.
Spend that money in free agency (Jennings?) and use that pick in the Draft (Keenan Allen?) and I think you would come out better than putting all your eggs into the Cruz basket.
I think trading for Cruz would be huge! It upgrades our Wr corp, we would still have a 1st rounder, and were getting back a Wr that has not had one bad word said about his character.
I wouldn't give up a first rounder for Cruz. I really hope they take this opportunity to build a big physical group of wideouts. They will need to pick up a guy like Jennings for leadership, but I would prefer they go big with the rest of the additions.
His gripes were founded, no doubt. And that's okay, as long as it's done in private. But you also have your teammates back.. You should trust and respect your coaches decisions. That's what a team player will do, sometimes frustration will take over and you say something you shouldn't. But that will be the end of it, and you move on. A team player will always look at what he could have done better.
Ponder has not proved he has what it takes to lead a championship team. But he did prove he has what it takes to lead a team to the post season. It's a start. Percy should have recognized that. Good luck to him...just not if he's playing my team.
Well that's a weird coincidence. My work computer opened up with "Ponder Cited as Reason for Tomb's Unhappiness."
"Others, like this hack blogger who lacks common sense, think that Harvin’s supposed gripes were plenty founded and that Christian Ponder has yet to prove that he has what it takes to lead a championship team. Harvin’s complaints, despite his personal accomplishments, might just prove that he is a fierce competitor that simply wanted to win football games and was willing to speak his mind when he felt somebody was holding the team back."
Adam, were this a porn, that would be the money shot.
On this matter, we speak in one voice.
And there are SO MANY parts of this comment from you, Tomb, that scare me.
To quote Dr. Evil: "Don't be scared, mini-me."
By the way, I've been away from the football scene for a bit, so I'm out of touch, but what's the deal with that Childs rascal? He good to try this year?
Sounds like he is working hard but nobody has really high expectations of a return. Spoiler: I'm going to try and score an interview with Sugerman this offseason. If successful I will surely ask that same question.
I'm pulling for the kid. Tough break after tough break. Good luck with the interview!
Literally tough breaks
Percy is just making excuses without even thinking about what he is saying. When he is talking about how Ponder is a big part of the problem, is this the same QB who was throwing the rock to PH on a consistent basis and had Harvin being considered as a MVP candidate early in the year. He was on pace for 111 catches and over 1300 yards until he got hurt (again). Hmmm something just doesn't add up here. I am glad the little whiner is gone, he can have the Seahawks feed him his pacifier when throws his next tantrum. Shouldn't take too long for that to happen.