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.
Coming soon: Percy Harvin's return to Winter Park
Posted by: Dan Wiederer under Vikings, Leslie Frazier, Leslie Frazier, Percy Harvin Updated: January 8, 2013 - 1:51 PM
Percy Harvin’s return to Winter Park is coming soon.
During a season wrap-up press conference Tuesday afternoon, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier revealed that Harvin will be returning to the team’s headquarters in the near future for a mandatory exit physical, an appointment that will also give Frazier a chance to visit more at length with the dynamic receiver.
Harvin hasn’t been around since being placed on Injured Reserve on Dec. 5, fueling plenty of outside speculation that he might be upset with the team.
But for what reason might Harvin be dismayed, if he even is at all? That’s an ongoing mystery.
Frazier did his best to squelch the perceived drama Tuesday. Asked what steps he might need to take to assure that Harvin will be able to co-exist peacefully in the future with the Vikings, Frazier shrugged.
“I don’t know if there is anything that needs to be done,” Frazier said. “I mean, he’ll coexist peacefully. He exists peacefully now.”
Harvin had himself a turbulent 2012. There was his surprising request for a trade at the team’s mini-camp in June, a wish he quickly backed down from.
Then he delivered an incredible run for the first eight games of the season, recording a league best 60 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Detroit in Week 4. He also contributed 22 rushes for 96 yards and a TD in the nine games he played.
But his last action came in Week 9 in Seattle, a game in which he was initially limited by a hamstring injury, then later suffered a severe sprain to his left ankle.
Harvin tried to recover from the injury but couldn’t make enough significant progress over the following three-and-a-half weeks, leading the Vikings to place him on I.R. And that’s when Harvin bolted, opting to attack his rehabilitation in Florida and separating himself from the Vikings as they put together a four-game winning streak to close the season.
Frazier didn’t expect any sort of dramatic reunion with Harvin when he returns to the Twin Cities.
“It’ll be more just to see how he is physically, just to talk with him a little bit,” Frazier said. “And I know [athletic trainer] Eric Sugarman and his staff will bring me up to date on that. But it will just be more reconnecting as opposed to getting on the same page.”
Frazier said Harvin’s ankle recovery was “headed in the right direction” with the exit physical being the next step in the evaluation.
Frazier could offer no thoughts on any potential Harvin contract talks in the coming weeks and months. The standout receiver is signed through the 2013 season but the Vikings will seriously consider giving Harvin a long-term extension well before next season starts if they believe he is still an ideal fit for what they’re building.
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| Seattle - LP: F. Hernandez | 0 | FINAL |
| Cleveland - WP: J. Masterson | 6 |
| Toronto | 0 | Postponed |
| NY Yankees | 0 |
| Arizona - LP: W. Miley | 1 | FINAL |
| Miami - WP: R. Nolasco | 2 |
| Cincinnati - LP: A. Chapman | 2 | FINAL |
| Philadelphia - WP: A. Bastardo | 3 |
| Houston - LP: L. Harrell | 0 | FINAL |
| Pittsburgh - WP: J. Locke | 1 |
| Los Angeles - LP: K. Jansen | 2 | FINAL |
| Atlanta - WP: L. Avilan | 5 |
| Tampa Bay - WP: M. Moore | 3 | FINAL |
| Baltimore - LP: C. Tillman | 1 |
| Boston - WP: J. Lackey | 5 | FINAL |
| Minnesota - LP: P. Hernandez | 1 |
| Milwaukee - LP: K. Lohse | 2 | FINAL |
| St. Louis - WP: J. Gast | 4 |
| NY Mets - WP: S. Rice | 4 | FINAL |
| Chicago Cubs - LP: K. Fujikawa | 3 |
| Chicago WSox - LP: J. Peavy | 2 | FINAL |
| LA Angels - WP: J. Vargas | 6 |
| Kansas City - LP: K. Herrera | 3 | FINAL |
| Oakland - WP: J. Blevins | 4 |
| Washington - LP: D. Haren | 4 | FINAL |
| San Diego - WP: A. Cashner | 13 |
| San Francisco - LP: B. Zito | 0 | FINAL |
| Colorado - WP: J. Nicasio | 5 |
| Detroit - LP: J. Ortega | 8 | FINAL |
| Texas - WP: R. Ross | 11 |
| Memphis | 83 | FINAL |
| San Antonio | 105 |
| Los Angeles | 0 | FINAL |
| Red Bull New York | 1 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 1 | FINAL |
| D.C. | 1 |
| Real Salt Lake | 4 | FINAL |
| Chivas USA | 1 |
| Date/Opponent | Time | W | L | Score |
| 2013 preseason | ||||
| Aug 9 - vs. Houston | 7 pm | |||
| Aug 16 - at Buffalo | 6 pm | |||
| Aug 25 - at San Francisco | 7 pm | |||
| Aug 29 - vs. Tennessee | 7 pm | |||
| 2013 regular season | ||||
| Sep 8 - at Detroit | Noon | |||
| Sep 15 - at Chicago | Noon | |||
| Sep 22 - vs. Cleveland | Noon | |||
| Sep 29 - vs. Pittsburgh (in London) | Noon | |||
| Oct 6 - Bye | ||||
| Oct 13 - vs. Carolina | Noon | |||
| Oct 21 - at. NY Giants | 7:40 pm | |||
| Oct 27 - vs. Green Bay | 7:30 pm | |||
| Nov 3 - at Dallas | Noon | |||
| Nov 7 - vs. Washington | 7:25 pm | |||
| Nov 17 - at Seattle | 3:25 pm | |||
| Nov. 24 - at Green Bay | Noon | |||
| Dec 1 - vs. Chicago | Noon | |||
| Dec 8 - at Baltimore | Noon | |||
| Dec 15 - vs. Philadelphia | Noon | |||
| Dec 22 - at Cincinnati | Noon | |||
| Dec 29 - vs. Detroit | Noon |
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