Minnesota Vikings: Percy Harvin Should Not Be Traded

On Wednesday Percy Harvin demanded a trade, breaking the hearts of Minnesota fans and surprising the front office. It was terrible news for a time of year typically filled with optimism for the upcoming season.

Instead, it’s the time where Vikings fans are imagining what was thought impossible just three days ago: a future without Harvin.

After proclaiming his unhappiness to the media on Tuesday he took to Twitter Wednesday to elaborate his position.

 “Fans I said I have issues to be worked out money not at all being the problem...I've dne everything asked and more...,” his first tweet said.

“Me and cch have been speaking and are on same page...theres nothin I can do,” his second tweet said.

In presuming “cch” refers to head coach Leslie Frazier, and if read correctly, it means Harvin has beef with the front office more so than with any of his teammates or coaches—unless Frazier has merely accepted Harvin’s anger or hostility towards a teammate or coach.  

At the ripe age of 24 Harvin is a young player who has proven himself a dynamic playmaker with untapped potential, despite already catching 218 passes for 2,625 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first three seasons in the league. He was also named to the 2009 Pro Bowl as a kick returner.

I expect the front office will sit down with Harvin in the very near future to discuss whatever problems he has with the organization.

He is the team’s second best offensive weapon and No. 1 receiver who is on the verge of becoming a team leader; he went out of his way to persuade as many Vikings as possible to attend organized team activities. He has too much untapped potential to be dealt at this stage of his career and this stage of Minnesota’s rebuilding process.

General manager Rick Spielman agrees. He told ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert, “We have no interest at all in trading Percy Harvin.”

It makes sense. However, it also makes sense that any team in the NFL would want to add a player of Harvin’s caliber. He’s young, versatile and on the verge of greatness—but it won’t happen.

Spielman also told Seifert, “We have a history of extending players going into the last year of their contract, and that's been our history.”

That suggests Harvin won’t receive a new contract before the 2012 season—which would be a big mistake. Harvin has said his issues with the organization are greater than just money, but a greater contract couldn’t hurt the situation. A few extra Benjamins in his back pocket may have him seeing the world differently.

Nevertheless, stay tuned, Vikings fans. This will be a fascinating story to follow, but it’s a story that should end with Harvin sporting purple and gold come Sept. 9.