It'd be darn near impossible to sour the Vikings' spirits this week as they continue their captivating run with Saturday's playoff clash in Green Bay. But there are two words that add at least a dash of confusion to the excitement at Winter Park.
Percy Harvin.
You remember him, right? The receiver who spent this season's first eight weeks alchemizing Christian Ponder screen passes and turning Paul Allen hoarse.
Now? Harvin has vanished, an out-of-sight, out-of-mind pawn whom Vikings coaches and players have stopped thinking about. Until, of course, they're asked about him. And then the awkwardness surfaces.
No one seems to know what to say. They're not exactly sure what Harvin's been up to since he bolted town almost immediately after being placed on injured reserve on Dec. 5. And they are not certain what Harvin's future holds. But wasting time trying to solve that puzzle now seems misguided.
Around the locker room, teammates notice reminders of Harvin's mysterious absence, such as the unopened packages stacking up inside his locker stall. But many players shrug it off. They have never felt Harvin was a significant distraction or divisive force to this team. Just a complex personality whose moodiness is part of the deal.
So even as those within the organization privately express confusion at the receiver's disappearance and unwillingness to return text messages and even as those higher up the power structure convey that they wish Harvin was around, no one is consumed by the subplot.
In a public setting Wednesday, Leslie Frazier was asked about Harvin's whereabouts and never wandered from his talking points. The Vikings coach confirmed Harvin is in Florida (at least at last check); that he is still continuing rehabilitation on his sprained left ankle; and that he is in constant communication with athletic trainer Eric Sugarman. Oh, and that he is still a big Vikings supporter.