Percy Harvin reportedly wants Calvin Johnson-type money
By Nam Huynh
Oct 25, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Leonard Johnson (29) breaks up a pass intended for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin (12) during the second quarter at the Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Whether Percy Harvin is unhappy with his contract or unhappy because of the team’s passing game, a discussion between the Vikings and Harvin’s agent, Joel Segal, about a contract extension is expected to happen at some point.
Harvin, 24, is in the final year of his rookie contract and is due to earn $2.9 million in 2013. If general manager Rick Spielman doesn’t intend to trade Harvin, as he says, there is a growing concern the Florida-product will hold out the way Vincent Jackson did with San Diego in 2010.
According to a report by Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports, Harvin wants a new deal that blows Dwayne Bowe’s recent five-year $56 million deal out of the water.
"While the Vikings and Harvin’s agent, Joel Segal, have yet to exchange contract proposals, it’s believed that Harvin wants money closer to what Calvin Johnson got from Detroit in 2012 (eight years, $132 million) than to Jackson or Bowe. That’s an average of $16.5 million per year compared to a little more than $11 million for Jackson and Bowe. As one person put it about Harvin, he considers himself a “special” player and executives around the league have fed that attitude by telling people close to him how difficult it is to cover Harvin."
Reports have gone back and forth all offseason as to the reason for Harvin’s unhappiness, with the latest report saying he is unhappy with the team’s passing game and not about his contract. Even if that is indeed the case, although it doesn’t seem to be so, Harvin reportedly had a major issue with his contract status as early as last offseason.
"Harvin threatened to walk out on the team last offseason after hearing that former Florida teammate Aaron Hernandez received a contract extension after only two years."
While it’s known that Harvin was unhappy about something last offseason, contract issues were only speculated, as details at the time were kept quiet by the organization. He and the team had apparently moved on from the situation once the season started.