NEWARK, N.J. – The Vikings haven't been on the NFL's grandest stage since Jan. 9, 1977. But former draft picks that tumble to them in the first round, become superstar receivers, wear out their welcome and get traded in their prime do tend to show up in Super Bowls with other teams.
Tuesday, it was Seattle's Percy Harvin, the No. 22 overall pick in 2009, who sat looking out at an avalanche of jostling reporters during Super Bowl XLVIII Media Day at Prudential Center Arena.
The Seahawks' 60-minute session was about 16 minutes old when along came Randy Moss, the No. 21 overall pick in 1998, to pump some life into an old friend. Moss was the original Vikings receiver with the bad-boy image. Heck, the future Hall of Famer wore out his welcome not once (2005), but twice (2010) in Minnesota. Each time, he later showed up on this ultimate stage, once as a record-setting receiver with the Patriots and last year as a bit player in his final season in San Francisco.
"Percy Harvin! What's up, brah?" Moss said as Harvin's eyes lit up like a child spotting Mickey Mouse sitting on Santa Claus' lap. "Randy Moss, Fox Sports. What's up, brah?"
"What's going on, big dog?" Harvin said.
"Hey, man, I missed you all season, brah," Moss said. "I know the 12th man, the whole Seattle fanbase, missed ya. How do you feel you can impact this game and bring this thing home to Seattle?"
"In different phases of the game," Harvin said. "The first thing, I definitely think on special teams I can be a factor in the game. And I think with the four of us receivers on the field, along with [running back] Marshawn Lynch, it's going to be pick your poison on who they want to stop."
"They" would be the Broncos, winners of the AFC and possessors of the NFL's first 600-point offense and soon-to-be five-time league MVP quarterback Peyton Manning.