MINNEAPOLIS, MN (The Spread) – One of the more intriguing offseason storylines has just developed over the past couple of days.
On February 10, Mike Max of CBS Minnesota reported that the Vikings will attempt to trade Percy Harvin this offseason. Citing league sources, Max said that Harvin unleashed an embarrassing tirade on head coach Leslie Frazier during the season, which apparently left a bad taste in the mounts of coaches and players alike. While Harvin remains the Vikings’ best receiver, the team might be fed up with his attitude regarding his role and his contract situation.
Speaking of which, according to a “high-ranking Vikings source,” Harvin expects an extension similar to the contracts that Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald signed recently. Johnson received an eight-year, $150.5 million deal last March from the Lions while Fitzgerald scored an eight-year, $128.5 million deal from the Cardinals. Johnson’s contract included $60 million in guaranteed money line Fitzgerald’s deal included $50 million guaranteed. If Harvin indeed expects to receive that kind of money, he’ll make it awfully difficult on the Vikings to trade him this offseason.
Tom Pelissero of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities also echoed a recent NFL.com report that said the Vikings are unlikely to net a first-round pick in exchange for the 24-year-old. In fact, an NFL executive told NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport that he would be “shocked” if the Vikings netted better than a third-round pick for the talented but troubled 24-year-old.
Despite making the playoffs last year on the legs and shoulders of Adrian Peterson, the Vikings are currently a 50/1 long shot to win the 2014 Super Bowl. The current favorites are the Broncos and 49ers at 7/1 odds, respectively, while the Patriots have the next best odds at 15/2. The Packers are 10/1, the Seahawks are 12/1 and the Ravens and Saints are 14/1, respectively.
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