Percy Harvin May Be Done With Vikings

As a Minnesota Vikings fan I have really been enamored with Percy Harvin's talents.  Heck we even named our new puppy "Percy".  It seems like Harvin and the Vikings management can't quite get along.  Here is the latest on the story from sbnation.com

The Percy Harvin situation continues to escalate in Minnesota, and it now appears the Vikings are set on attempting to trade the 24-year-old receiver. According to Mike Max of WCCO in Minneapolis, the franchise will look to ship out their star wide receiver.

Max also reports Harvin was placed on injured reserve this season due to an altercation with head coach Leslie Frazier. Sources tell Max that Harvin was disrespectful towards Frazier in front of teammates after he suffered an ankle injury, and the Vikings aren't going to tolerate his behavior anymore.

Harvin also had a heated exchange with Brad Childress when he was at the helm of the Vikings back in 2010.

Tom Pelissero of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities notes one NFL source believes Harvin would be worth a second or third-round draft pick. Clearly there are attitude issues to deal with, but there's no denying the talent Harvin brings to the table.

Before being placed on IR, Harvin caught 62 passes for 677 and three touchdowns, also adding a rushing and kick return score to his resume. The Vikings utilized his versatility in every way possible in seemed during the nine games he played.

The last game Harvin played in came against Seattle in Week 9. From that point on the Vikings finished 5-2 and clinched a playoff berth. Adrian Peterson carried the offense at times, while the passing game was noticeably less effective.

Christian Ponder threw for 200 or more yards in five games with Harvin on the field. With Harvin on the sideline, Ponder finished with just two games of at least 200 yards passing.

Harvin is still playing on his rookie contract, so his cap isn't much. However, a multi-year extension would likely cost a hefty amount. Chris Wesseling of NFL.com believes his new contract range over $10 million a year.

A passing game without Harvin will force the Vikings to rely on Peterson going forward. Unless they can quickly find a replacement of Harvin's level, which won't be easy to do, Ponder doesn't have many weapons to work with. Jarius Wright showed flashes of Harvin-esque play at times, but you can't even begin to compare those two. Wright simply provides another receiver who can operate out of the slot and take quick hits from Ponder.

Minnesota would save itself money and more headaches if Harvin is traded. He wants to win, but his behavior gets in the way at times. Assuming the reports about his disrespectful tirade with Frazier, reconciling may be tough to achieve.

Several analysts continue to point towards the New England Patriots as a potential landing spot for Harvin. Bill Belichick would love a versatile receiver like him to work with Tom Brady. The Patriots, though, aren't typically in the business of handing huge contracts to wideouts. They're currently dealing with that issue with Wes Welker.

Expect plenty of Harvin speculation in the coming weeks. All we know now is his chances of suiting up in purple next season are diminishing as we speak.

 It could be a long 2013.