Percy Harvin is currently the main talk of trade rumors in the NFL and the Minnesota Vikings have said that if the receiver wants to hold out of team workouts down the line, it will not help him with a new contract.
According to ESPN.com, sources spoke to Josina Anderson and said that if Harvin decides to hold out of team events or workouts in the offseason, it will not help solve the issues with the contract. ProFootballTalk.com reported on Monday that Harvin may "stay away" from training camp unless he gets a new deal.
The 24-year-old receiver is one of the most explosive players in the NFL, but he missed most of the season with an ankle injury and has had issues with the coaching staff and executives over the past two years about his contract. He is currently about to enter the final year of his rookie deal and it set to make nearly $3 million in 2013.
"As far as holding out, that's not something that I've heard he definitely will do at this point," the source told Anderson. "But I wouldn't be surprised if they're throwing out threats -- that's what agents do."
"As far as holding out, that's not something that I've heard he definitely will do at this point," the source told Anderson. "But I wouldn't be surprised if they're throwing out threats -- that's what agents do," the source told Anderson
The Vikings official said that Harvin sees himself as one of the top receivers in the NFL and wants to be compensated that way. Calvin Johnson recently signed an eight year deal worth over $130 million, while Larry Fitzgerald signed one for eight and over $120 million.
"[Harvin] is a star player in our league, but I would imagine that he sees himself in the class of the top wide receivers in our league," the source said. "I do know at his production, when he was healthy, he was producing along with Larry and Calvin and those guys. I could see Harvin's agent making the argument that he deserves their type of pay."
Harvin made the Pro Bowl in 2011, but he missed most of the season with an ankle injury suffered in early November against the Seahawks. He still was able to lead the team in receiving with 62 receptions last season for 677 yards and three touchdowns and had two receptions for 10 yards in his last game before getting hurt.
Harvin had the look of an NFL MVP early in the season before getting hurt, racking up yards and touchdowns on returns. For his career, he has gained 7,168 all-purpose yards with 29 touchdowns, including 20 receiving, five return, four rushing scores. Harvin has 280 receptions in 54 career games played.
Deals have been rumored with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dolphins have also come up in talks, as they have been without a number on receiver since trading Brandon Marshall.
Harvin has had issues with the Vikings dating back to last summer when he requested a trade and showed up on training camp afterwards. He had a reported argument with head coach Leslie Frazier about his injury, but the staff downplayed the situation.
Adrian Peterson, who ended up winning MVP, came out and said that he wanted the Vikings to keep Harvin. Peterson said that Harvin and the Vikings should be able to figure out their differences.
"I haven't really had the opportunity to talk to him much. But I always look at what you can get from a person, and I know it comes with, 'OK, you gotta deal with this, or deal with that,' but I always feel like that person can overcome whatever it is that they might be struggling with," he said.
