vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Leslie Frazier says decision to put Percy Harvin on IR based only on injury
Posted by: Dan Wiederer under Vikings, Leslie Frazier, Leslie Frazier, Percy Harvin Updated: December 6, 2012 - 3:49 PM
Maybe there's more to the Percy Harvin injury saga than the Vikings are letting on. And maybe there isn't. Just a few minutes ago, head coach Leslie Frazier met with reporters following practice and explained the team's decision to put their best wide receiver on injured reserve. That move with Harvin came on Wednesday, ending his season.
Frazier said Harvin just wasn't showing enough progress to make it realistic that he could return for any of the final four games. Frazier also said there was some ligament tearing in Harvin's ankle but that he was hopeful that the receiver wouldn't need surgery.
Here are all of Frazier's thoughts on the hottest topic at Winter Park right now ...
On why the Vikings chose to place Harvin on I.R. …
“Just for us, you realize that for him as well as our team this is the best thing to do as opposed to continuing to try to make something happen that’s not going to happen. I think it helps all of us. For him to concentrate on what he has to concentrate on from a physical standpoint and knowing that he wasn’t going to make the progress that was necessary for him to get back and play this season.”
On the extent of Harvin’s injury …
“Obviously when you miss the time that he’s missed, he has a sprain that has kept him from playing. So our medical staff, our trainers did everything they could. And still are. They’re still going to go through rehab and try to do the things that are necessary to get him back. Which he’ll be back eventually. But just not this season.”
On whether Harvin may require surgery …
“He should not have to have surgery. At least we’re hoping that. They’ll continue to go through what they’re going through. I’m hoping, got my fingers crossed that won’t be the case.”
On how the decision was finalized Wednesday …
“It’s been something that’s been talked about for a number of says, as you can imagine. As we’ve been trying to monitor his progress and see how he was coming along. So there was a lot of discussion and this was the conclusion we all came to.”
On when the debate regarding putting Harvin on I.R. surfaced …
“Just within the last couple days, as we were talking about where he was, what was going to be best for him, what was going to be best for us. And we made that decision.”
On whether Harvin’s recovery process had stopped …
“It still was at a point where we couldn’t get the things that needed to be done done, to make enough progress for us to say, ‘OK, he’s moving in the right direction.’
On whether Harvin suffered any setback during the past four weeks …
“He made some progress at times, but it was incremental. Not to the point [we wanted it]. You guys had a chance to see him even a week ago. Just not the progress we needed to see along the way, so we’ve got to step back a little bit and try to do the things that are necessary for him and best for us and let him concentrate on getting well. He’s such a valuable commodity. You don’t want to do anything that’s going to create some long-term ill effects.”
On whether there was anything more than the injury to Wednesday’s move …
“No. Nah. No.”
On whether there was anything more Harvin could have done …
“No. He’s cooperated and he’s tried to do the things they asked him to do. Just not making the progress.”
On his own desire to keep Harvin off injured reserve …
“Once I got the information that I received and realized why [that was being done], I understood. At that point, no. You understand the situation and understand where he is. We’ve got other guys that are going to step up and hopefully make some plays for us in this ballgame, this Sunday.”
On whether Harvin suffered a Grade 3 sprain, which includes ligament tearing …
“I never heard them use the words Grade 3 so rather than get into specifics about the level of the ankle injury I never heard that term. Yes, [he had some tearing]. I don't want to get too specific about his injury.”
On the difficulty between balancing the immediate need for Harvin to be on the field with the long-term vision for his future …
"It's hard. It's hard. But ultimately you have to do what's best for the player and the organization. This was not an easy decision by any means.”
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