As one of the surprise teams of the 2012 NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings were able to defy the odds with a streaky second-year quarterback in Christian Ponder and a superstar Adrian Peterson coming off a potentially career-ending knee surgery.
The Vikings were eliminated in the NFC Wild Card against by the division rival Green Bay Packers on Saturday, the season went much better than anticipated with a playoff berth and a historic season by Peterson.
With all the team was able to accomplish riding Peterson’s unbelievable season and Ponder’s streaky performances, the outcome may have been that much more promising with wide receiver Percy Harvin healthy for the entire season.
Harvin was placed on the Vikings’ injured reserve last month due to a nagging ankle injury. The consensus was that Harvin would be able to get back for the playoffs, but failed to make enough progress in order to return to the field and as a result the team decided to shutdown him for the year.
Before heading into the 2012 campaign, there was a lot of speculation surrounding Harvin and his status with the team. Harvin was rumored to be seeking a trade from Minnesota, but a deal never came to fruition with the Vikings having no intention of moving one of their best players before the season began.
The question was raised to head coach Leslie Frazier following the loss to the Packers this past weekend about Harvin returning to the team next season. Frazier said the following via Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune:
While the speculation locally and in NFL circles is that Percy Harvin won’t be back with the Vikings next season because of his personal problems with the franchise, Frazier said: “I don’t see any reason why Percy wouldn’t be back with us. He should be.”
Harvin was having a solid season before going down with the ankle injury catching 62 passes for 677 yards and three touchdowns. As usual, Harvin was also a force running the football (96 yards, one touchdown) and on kick returns (one touchdown) in the nine games he played.
Although Frazier claims Harvin will be back with the team next season regardless of talk of a trade, the 24-year-old wideout might not feel the same way and may attempt to force his way out of Minnesota.
