By Kent Youngblood, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) –
MINNEAPOLIS — Percy Harvin never mentioned the word “contract.”
But he mentioned the word “unhappy” more than once.
The Vikings’ receiver hinted at the start of mandatory minicamp Tuesday that he won’t be at training camp late next month unless the remaining two years of the five-year, $12.05 million deal he signed as a rookie in 2009 are reworked.
“I’ll put it this way, it’s a lot of different things that have to be sorted out,” Harvin said. “Just haven’t been too happy lately. So we’ve got a couple things to work on.”
The final two years of Harvin’s contract call for base salaries of $915,000 and $1.55 million. With potential bonuses, those two years could be worth around $2.5 million.
Harvin, already a Pro Bowl kick returner, had 87 catches and 1,312 total offensive yards (967 receiving, 345 rushing) last season.
Harvin had minor shoulder surgery during the offseason and participated in some of the optional workouts. He took part in some early drills during afternoon practice following his morning press briefing, but not in the scrimmage portion of the workout. He fell on his shoulder at one point.
“I felt it a little bit,” he said. “But that’s part of it. Each week it will get stronger and stronger.”
Harvin added: “I don’t want to be a distraction. … Any issues I have, on a personal level, are dealt with aside from the team.”
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said the two would meet.
“I really feel like when he and I sit down to talk in depth, whatever that it is that is on his heart or on his mind, we’ll get through it,” Frazier said. “I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be at training camp. I expect him to be at camp.”
Harvin has been one of the most consistently productive players for the Vikings the past three seasons. He won offensive rookie of the year honors after catching 60 passes for 790 yards and six touchdowns in 2009. Harvin has amassed 5,821 yards in receiving, rushing and kick returns in three seasons.
But there have been health issues. He has battled migraine headaches that have kept him out of many practices and a few games.
Harvin said he would keep the specifics of his unhappiness between him and team officials, and said he hoped the problem could be solved between minicamp and training camp.
“I’m just not happy,” he said. “I won’t go into how unhappy. I’m just overall not happy with a couple situations.”
Reporters pressed Harvin, asking if he was specifically talking about his contract, but he wouldn’t bite.
“We got a lot of time between now and then, hopefully a lot of conversations. It’s different issues. It’s hard to tell you guys without telling you guys. I’ll just keep it at that.”
