Just Say “No” To Percy Harvin
March 3rd, 2013
Could the Bucs use a slot receiver? Darn right. Could the Bucs use a speedy guy to stretch the field in addition to Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson? Sure. Could the Bucs use a solid return guy (if they continue to keep Michael Smith on the bench for no good reason)? Hell, yes!
So when Joe hears Bucs fans pine for Minnesota receiver/problem child Percy Harvin, Joe says, “Hell, no!”
This seems to be the sentiment of Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune as he discusses the probability of Harvin coming to the Bucs in a Bucs TBO Q&A.
Q. I may be biased because I am a huge Florida Gator fan, but if Percy Harvin could be had for a 2nd and 4th round draft pick, why would the Bucs not pull the trigger? Drafting is a hard process that no one can say they have completely mastered. Who is to say that those picks will pan out well, but if you traded the picks for Harvin you know what you are getting. You are getting one of the most explosive players the NFL has ever seen. I would love to see Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams on the outside with Percy tearing up the slot. Its not going to happen because of the Bucs draft and develop policy, but we need to win and get Freeman some threats, NOW.
Andrew Athans
Arnold, MD
A. I can think of a couple of reasons why the Bucs wouldn’t pull the trigger on such a deal. First off, Harvin is threatening to sit out if he doesn’t get a new contract. That’s a problem you don’t want to buy into. Second, he does have a history of injury issues and the Bucs will want to make sure he’s well past those before taking a chance on him. Finally, there may be a better option available once free agency starts. Let’s see what happened with Wes Welker. I think he is someone the Bucs may look to target this year, because he’s bring some sure hands and some valuable veteran experience to the team. I agree that Harvin is a dynamic player, but if you’re going to give up two draft picks, including a second-rounder, for him, you better be sure he’s not only the best player money can buy but the most reliable.
Woody Cummings
In no uncertain terms, Harvin is a headache, real and implied. He’s not dependable, physically or mentally.
Would Joe love to have a guy of his talents on the field? Sure. But the baggage Joe — and Bucs coach Greg Schiano — can do without.
Look, if the Bucs unloaded a constant distraction like cabbie-slugging, pistol-whipping, helmet-wielding, Adderall-popping, granny-hassling Aqib Talib, if Sgt. Winslow wouldn’t toe the line, what makes anyone think Schiano will stomach Harvin and his constant drama?
No, Harvin is not a Buccaneer Man.
March 3rd, 2013 at 9:18 am
Harvin is a massive headache…Draft Kenny Stills in the 5th Round
March 3rd, 2013 at 9:33 am
Well said, Joe.
Not a Buccaneer man.
March 3rd, 2013 at 9:34 am
@MikeInTampa2
nice pick, don’t know if he’ll make it to the 5th, but we do have 2 4th rounders. Another prospect would be WR Conner Vernon.
March 3rd, 2013 at 9:40 am
@4everBucsFan…..I’ll take Kenny Stills in the late 4th Round. Dude has: Hands, Speed & Swagger:)
March 3rd, 2013 at 9:46 am
First rule of trading…. don’t give up premium picks for a guy ready to break the bank on his contract. A free agency contract is just that, a guy’s free market value. If you spend premium picks for a guy that you plan on paying (or will be forced to pay) a big contract, you are essentially paying twice for the same player (picks + cash). That’s not how good football teams are built.
March 3rd, 2013 at 9:49 am
Yes, Harvin is a migraine-plagued pain in the rear, but supremely talented WR and no, Schiano would not take on that challenge with where the Bucs are in their maturation cycle.
Vikings GM, Rick Spielman, has no intention of trading Harvin and has said so publicly. Frazier wants him back and the Vikings hold all the cards according to Kevin Seifert, ESPN NFC North blogger.
Jacksonville made an example of MJD last year and Drew probably hurt himself by attempting to force the hand of a billionaire owner. Missing a whole football season can have a serious impact on a player’s career. Harvin will have second thoughts by the time the season starts.
March 3rd, 2013 at 10:04 am
@MikeInTampa2
Another project I’d bet Schiano would like to develop would be ex-QB turned WR Denard Robinson. He would be in the mold of that “Buccaneer Man”
March 3rd, 2013 at 10:14 am
Next story………
March 3rd, 2013 at 10:34 am
@4everBucsFan……that guy can do a million things
March 3rd, 2013 at 10:35 am
Well put Joe.
Perhaps a team could put up with drama OR headaches, but not both.
Harvin is an electric player, but I wouldn’t touch him unless it is for a 4th rounder.
He is talented, but seems like a prima donna.
March 3rd, 2013 at 10:47 am
Trade down and draft Tavon Austin plus we get another pic.
March 3rd, 2013 at 11:06 am
Harvin = Great talent….major headache. Move on.
March 3rd, 2013 at 11:21 am
doesn’t matter how much talent one has, if they are always on the sideline or in the training room. to unpredictable… NO Harvin
March 3rd, 2013 at 11:24 am
Per PFF, Welker actually had quite a few drops in 2012.
March 3rd, 2013 at 11:26 am
The last thing I heard is that he has a terrible migraine problem. For anyone that has never had one, it is like telling people about a root canal or colonoscopy….unless you have had one, you don’t really know what it is about. From personal experience, shoulder surgery with a clean out and some bone “contouring” was an easier thing to deal with, on a one day basis. And if he has those problems out of the blue, it is always lurking in the background on any game day, and is totally disabling. Why should the Bucs trade high draft picks for this problem? I wouldn’t risk it unless we had a full years history of control on this issue before I would even think about it.
March 3rd, 2013 at 11:39 am
no wont happen
March 3rd, 2013 at 12:21 pm
This is all about patience, do the Bucs draft and develop or get players like Harvin, Revis and even Abraham to make a run now. To get those guys what of the future are you willing to give up. Those three players could put the Bucs in the playoffs this year but what about next year when they are free agents again.
March 3rd, 2013 at 12:26 pm
You say stay away from Harvin because he is a headache and you follow that up by saying draft Kenny Stills. I am the only one apparently that appreciates the hilariousness of the irony…
March 3rd, 2013 at 12:44 pm
I say we go snag up another one of ur Floridians. Im not too high on gators but Chris Rainey is out there. I say snag that dude up. Hes gotta come on the cheap.
March 3rd, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Bucs win super bowl in 2014.Who is with me!!!!!!
March 3rd, 2013 at 1:16 pm
Does anyone else think we should make a run at Danny Amendola if he’s available?
Some injury concerns, but when healthy is a poor man’s Welker. Could be a huge upgrade to this offense, a guy that keeps the chains moving. Which is exactly the thing we’re missing in the passing game.
March 3rd, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Spot on Joe. Harbinger is more trouble than talent. Spoiled lil whiner
March 3rd, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Damn phone- “Harvin is more. . .”.
March 3rd, 2013 at 2:13 pm
True that Tampa 2, followed by the next guy who wants Chris Rainey? Are you guys joking? I mean, Harvin tested positive for weed at the Combine, but at least he never had a DUI (like Stills) or a domestic abuse charge after prior threats to kill his girlfriend (Rainey).
March 3rd, 2013 at 2:24 pm
What is a Buccaneer guy.
March 3rd, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Harvin is a great talent, but is a cancer like K2. His price tag would certainly be too high for what he could offer. We don’t need that.
We also don’t need Wes Welker as our slot guy or any WR position. He’s too small and Brady and the NE system makes Welker what he is. Last I checked, we don’t have a QB with Brady’s accuracy or a offensive system like NE. I just don’t understand Cumming’s bro-mance with Welker.
March 3rd, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Good post Brandon.
I agree. Don’t trade premium picks just so you can sign a guy to a max contract. The goal of the premium picks are to aquire similar talent but for much less… then after you developed the guy your team would know if he was worth re-signing or not.
Besides, nobody wants a cancer.
March 3rd, 2013 at 3:10 pm
im not comparining talent or skill but i would much rather have Reggie Bush give up No draft picks great third down back or slot WR.Maybe a PR too!!!??
March 3rd, 2013 at 3:29 pm
If u look at the draft under administrator we get on starter per draft. So why not
March 3rd, 2013 at 3:39 pm
So let me get this straight: we don’t want Percy Harvin, yet we want to draft the honey badger????? Nice double standard. And please don’t take me for stupid and make the excuse its because one is cheaper than the other. No matter how cheap, Mr. badger can poison a locker room. He certainly won’t poison a weight room at least, because he’ll never be in one.
March 3rd, 2013 at 3:54 pm
Too much ignorance here. You guys think a migraine is a headache? You have no idea. Joe is right. I like Harvin, but you guys complain that Talib can’t be counted to be in the big game….Harvin is in exactly the same situation, though it isn’t his fault. It is just reality. Glad many of you “headache” guys have absolutely no decision making power in this process. If you ever see Harvin, ask him why he can’t play through his headaches. He would probably like to break your nose or more so if you stated such stupidity.
March 3rd, 2013 at 4:06 pm
Just to educate a few of you, try playing football with a feeling of a knife sticking in your brain, vertigo where you can’t walk straight, nausea where you are throwing up like you drank until you blacked out the night before, where your eyes don’t track normally, where you can’t keep your eyes open in bright lights, and sounds and smells are magnified about 5 times making you ever sicker. And there is no 100% treatment. That is what Harvin had, last time I heard. You can try to avoid triggers, but sometimes things like weather changes and barometric pressure can trigger it, smells, or lights. It is more of a “storm on your brain” neurologically, than a headache.
And BTW, some people in normal jobs get SS disability because of the impact it has on their jobs. Now Harvin does have the best medical care in the country….but there is no known “cure” just “control”. Some do get better over time, but they really don’t know why one way or the other.
March 3rd, 2013 at 4:21 pm
^^^^^^ That must be a horrible way to live. I feel for the guy. To have something routinely devastate you and theres nothing you can do about it is terrible.
March 3rd, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Fatmosh:
Very good idea, but as you stated, wouldn’t throw much cash at him because he can’t stay healthy.
If he was healthy, wow, good pick up.
March 3rd, 2013 at 4:29 pm
I will say this though, when your third leading receiver behind Mike and V.J. is a running back… there’s a problem with the slot and/or TE position. Its a glaring hole that definitely needs to be addressed immediately.
March 3rd, 2013 at 4:33 pm
What ever happened to Preston Parker? I thought he was a pretty good slot receiver. why did we ever let him go? he could have really helped us out. at least he didn’t drop every pass like high top and he was sharp on third down.
March 3rd, 2013 at 4:56 pm
@ Andrew 1
Preston Parker, this is the explanation I got.
http://www.bucsnation.com/2012/9/20/3363600/buccaneers-cut-preston-parker-re-sign-tiquan-underwood
March 3rd, 2013 at 5:08 pm
@ 4everbucsfan
Thanks, that cleared it up. but even if his value did diminish from not being able to return punts I still think he could have helped out in the slot. O well, I guess the want a more well rounded player at that position.
March 3rd, 2013 at 8:10 pm
Pay Wallace and move M Williams all over the field! Best WR corps in the league if that happens.
March 4th, 2013 at 1:46 am
Tyvon Austin would be a great pick up! and would fit exactly all those needs!
March 4th, 2013 at 7:56 am
Harvin is a diva receiver who will have a short NFL career due to his antics not his play. When he is able to play. His contract should have a provision starts vs “migraines”.
March 4th, 2013 at 10:37 am
Wait a second now…Percy Harvin is a “problem child” because he’s bitching about his contract? Vincent Jackson held out half a season because he didn’t like his contract in San Diego!
He has also been unfairly labeled as “injury prone”…Harvin has played in 14 or more games in three out of his four seasons (with 9 games in 2012 being the exception)…Has he had headache issues…sure, but that has rarely kept him off the field and some have said that the lights in the dome make it more difficult for him.
I’m not saying to go out and grab Percy Harvin…because you’re going to have to pay him big bucks…but he is one of the best offensive players in the NFL. Wes Welker couldn’t hold Percy Harvin’s jock. Jackson, Harvin, and Williams would make up a receiving corps for the ages…one of the most talented trios EVER. We’ve got all this money to spend and apparently (and curiously) no desire to spend it on anyone…but anyone who thinks that he isn’t worth a big contract…or is too much of a risk in the locker room, has no idea what they’re talking about. This would instantly become the most dangerous offense in the NFL and if Freeman didn’t step it up big time this year…you could draft someone next year and they’d be handed a golden opportunity.
And now I’ve just convinced myself. Screw it, if you can get Harvin for a 2nd and 4th round pick…and restructure his deal and give him $10 million a season…Do it.
Or…let a smart team like the Patriots pull the trigger on this deal and make everyone else look stupid.