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An Open Letter to Minnesota Vikings Fans PDF Print E-mail
Written by James Brown   
Wednesday, 08 July 2009

This letter is to ensure you realize the joy you are about to experience watching Percy Harvin these coming years. He is leaving our Gator-centric world and entering yours, and if you feel anything but giddy, I am here to let you in on what you’re about to receive.

Percy Harvin is a fantastically talented player. And any ‘character issues’ the draft talking heads have been feeding you are complete fabrication.

 

Florida fans used to be frustrated with Dan Mullen. They thought his offense was too predictable, either the Harvin or Tim Tebow show. The truth is, if the offense was getting stale, and needed a play, we needed the ball in Percy Harvin’s hands. He’d run that deadly counter (just ask South Carolina, first vid, or Arkansas, second vid), or take a direct snap. The guy is a game changer.

His early career was hurt by injuries. These were a product of a heel condition he should have straightened out by now. Our training and coaching staffs, in addition to visiting NFL scouts, often were quoted as saying he was one of the toughest players they’d witnessed play the game. I’d say he is less injury-prone, and more a guy who offensive coordinators NEED to touch the ball, and are thus more likely to get nicked up now and again. He will single-handedly win you football games when he is in the lineup.

 

 

 

I have to address the “character concerns”. There was never one issue or one problem with Percy Harvin as a Florida Gator. Then, in the time between his declaring for the draft and the actual draft, we hear about all these “character issues”? What gives? They brought up an on-field altercation with a high school coach, and of course the rumored failed drug test. This is hardly worthy of the comparisons to Randy Moss (had to go to Marshall instead of FSU) and others. I think the NFL Draft guys just need to have the 3-4 “character issues” guys to discuss every year, and they forced Harvin into the mold. He’s a great guy, and every team in the world would be lucky to have him.

And now I’ll leave you with a tribute to Percy’s Gator career. If you’re wondering which play caused me to create the “Percy Harvin: He’s Not My Father, But He’s Still My Daddy” facebook group in September 2006, it was the play v. UCF just before the 30 second mark, but the clip here doesn’t play as well as I remember seeing it in the Swamp.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 23 July 2009 )
 
Discuss (4 posts)
An Open Letter to Minnesota Vikings Fans
Jul 14 2009 22:59:52
I can't think of anyone more slippery than this guy in the history of Gator football. He didn't always do it with just pure speed either like Reggie Bush. It was a combo of well timed cuts, field vision and body control. I hope that the Vikings are really creative in how to use this guy.

Percy is one of those guys you tell your grandkids about.
#2362
An Open Letter to Minnesota Vikings Fans
Jul 16 2009 18:00:23
What really made me laugh was all the fuss over Percy failing that drug test, and the fingers that were pointed back at Urban Meyer on account of it.

First off, this happened at the NFL Draft Conbine which Percy couldn't have attended had he not given up his final year of college eligibility to enter the NFL Draft - so to blame Meyer for this is asinine.

Then, I laugh at those who were calling Percy a "thug" over all this - it wasn't thuggery on his part, it was more like stupidity and immaturity. Hopefully he's learned a lesson from all this and realizes that now he needs to grow up. It's OK to be a kid in college, but in the NFL it's time for him to act like a grown man.

That aside, he brings an impressive skillset to the Vikings with SPEED as well as the ability to elude tacklers.

As long as Percy sticks to playing his game on the field and makes good choices in his off-field personal life, he'll be alright.
#2370
Re:An Open Letter to Minnesota Vikings Fans
Jul 16 2009 18:26:49
Out friends at Purple pride had an extended thread on this blog.

I told them over there:

I wasn't arguing for Percy Harvin being the greatest NFL talent in this draft or anything like that. I am no NFL expert, and there are questions about every single prospect.

My main point was: don't let the excitement over getting this GREAT TALENT at #22 diminish because of "character issues". We never got a whiff of those during his career at Florida.

I think he can have a great NFL career, and didn't want him starting on the wrong foot with our purple-clad friends.
#2371
An Open Letter to Minnesota Vikings Fans
Jul 16 2009 19:09:24
Agreed Goose; I'm sure plenty of Gator-haters and assorted trolls have done their share of bad-mouthing Percy to Viking fans already.
#2372

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