Report: Harvin might have to attend 2010 symposium
June 30th, 2009 – 6:25 PM by Judd ZulgadWe toned down the headline a bit after getting an official response from the NFL that is now the last graph of this story.
Vikings rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin remained absent from the NFL’s rookie symposium on Tuesday because of illness and might have to attend the event next year, according to the NFL Network.
Steve Wyche, reporting for “NFL Total Access” from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., said Harvin wanted to return to the symposium Tuesday but that doctors gave him medicine and told him to remain at home. Wyche said Harvin is concerned about how people will perceive his absence because of the question marks that surrounded his character entering the NFL draft in April.
Harvin had top-10 talent but dropped to the Vikings with the 22nd-overall pick in part because he reportedly tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine in February in Indianapolis.
This is not the first time Harvin has dealt with an illness this offseason that has kept him from an NFL-related event. Harvin missed a Vikings rookie camp in early May after becoming so ill during a layover in Atlanta that he was hospitalized. Harvin, who had been traveling from Florida, was suffering from extreme dehydration and a virus. He returned home two days after being admitted to the hospital.
The former University of Florida standout reported for the start of the four-day symposium Sunday afternoon, but the medical staff suggested he return home after he told them he wasn’t feeling well. Harvin and his family live in the Gainesville area. Organizers of the event officially excused Harvin; all 256 draft picks were in attendance on Sunday, according to symposium officials.
The symposium focuses on helping rookies adjust to life in the NFL by bringing in guest speakers and experts in a number of different areas to discuss various issues. It is something the league takes very seriously. In fact, Wyche said it is taken so seriously that his understanding is that Harvin will have to attend next year’s symposium with the incoming rookie class despite the fact he will have been in the league for a year.
In an e-mail to the Star Tribune on the subject, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said: “[Harvin] was excused. Players who are excused are expected to make up the material presented. That may involve attendance at the following year’s symposium.”
28 Responses to "Report: Harvin might have to attend 2010 symposium"
We did well with the last draftee with supposed Character issues that dropped to us in the draft; Randy Moss.
I sure hope these last two illnesses are in fact, illnesses and not some lame excuse to dodge something Harvin just doesn’t want to attend.
So far, I don’t like the smell of it.
[…] According to Steve Wyche of NFL Network, per Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Harvin is worried about his image due to this episode that follows uncontested reports that he tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine. […]
[…] Judd Zulgad (Star Tribune) reported that since Percy Harvin was sent home from the Symposium this year for illness, he will be required to attend next year’s Symposium with the 2010 rookie class. Harvin did attend the symposium with the other 255 draft picks, and wanted to remain, but was sent home by medical officials. […]
I agree Fran. I hope he will listen to the veterans on this team. I hope some of those vets will step up and let Percy know how things are. There are alot at that age that just dont know. I think it would be better coming from a player rather than an “old” coach.
[…] [Vikings] Vikings WR Percy Harvin Might Have To Attend 2010 Symposium League spokesman Brian McCarthy said : [Harvin] was excused. Players who are excused are expected to make up the material presented. That may involve attendance at the following years symposium. Harvin is concerned about how people will perceive his absence because of the question marks that surrounded his character entering the NFL draft in April. Source: Star Tribune […]
By the way, am I missing something. Last night I posted about how Cris Carter mentored Moss. And got back a response about CC and cocaine. Wasnt that about 20 years ago. And he has been clean since he came to the Vikes, right? I mean he was young and dumb. I wouldnt put him in with Irvin, seems like alot of people do. Seems like there’s alot of negativity towards him. In his days in minny I always thought he was a stand up guy. That is unless I am missing something. If that is the case then I would consider a name change.
I thought CC got a wake up call when the Eagles cut him and he cleaned up after that. Maybe stuff has happened since, you’d have probably heard. Should be in the HOF, better than M. Irvin on and off the field.
Percy though is not getting off to a good start - hope this is the end of it.
Maybe Percy is like Carter. Party animal when young and all’s he did was catch touchdowns.
Red flags are everywhere with this guy.
Why give us the treatment (medication) and not the doctors diagnosis ??…
If Percy is “concerned how people might perceive” his absence ??..Why not mention what he is taking the medication for ??…
Haven’t heard anything like this out of Michael Oher…
Bones, don’t call this a red flag unless you have concrete evidence this actually is a red flag. All you have right now is speculation and pessimism.
maybe percy just doesn’t react well when traveling from Minnesota to Florida?
Percy better sign his contract before he really screws up…Why is everything with Harvin such a mystery ??…
You would think the Viking public relations dept would have out a nice tidy explination put out on Harvins condition…
So the NFL doesn’t have 10 drug tests lined up for this guy when he gets under contract ??…Like they are doing now to the Williams boys…
GLB -
If you started your new job at Walmart and you were required to be at two training events in your first couple months of the new job, and both times you showed up to the meeting sick and couldn’t complete the required training, your employer would be concerned. It doesn’t matter why, your employer would be concerned. In other words a red flag would pop up. It doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be a great cashier someday (even though you failed the drug test when Walmart hired you), but it would be a red flag. By the way, if Bones waits until he has concrete evidence, it would no longer be “speculation”.
Good one Fred !!
As always, Fred understands where I was coming from.
I want the guy to stay clean, stay healthy, and be productive as much as any other Viking fan. But when a guy who had “character issues” that were supposedly in the past has had two suspicious incidents since being drafted you have to wonder what is going on…
I agree with Bones..
Its just all statements released on Harvin leave room for plenty of speculation ??…When both reports on Harvin came out on him being ill..First reports on both have not stated the nature of the illness ??…That leaves room for speculation…
I bleed, has the Vikings organization ever given us a ‘clear cut’ answer? Be it Harvin, Favre, Winfield, we always seem left in a cloud of mystery. Now, PFT is reporting that Favre should have an answer by the end of this week. Ticket sales start July 9th.
Maybe we just have different definitions of a red flag. Yes, I’m concerned, but I’m not ready to call this a red flag. To me, when you say red flag, that means there is a character issue, meaning that Percy’s illness was drug related. Until I have reason to believe that this illness was somehow drug related, I’m not going to assume that. To me, speculation is pointless and accomplishes nothing.
I like the Wal-Mart analogy. The Twins are Target, “Expect More, Get Less”. The Vikes are Wal-Mart, “Spend Money, Live Better”, which is the new slogan I am told.
Ziggy is Sam Walton, Chili is an “Associate” and Brett is kind of old, he can be a “Greeter”. Good time for a Wal-Mart joke:
A lady buys a Rod and Reel at Wal-Mart. The “Associate” tells her, “I’m blind, drop it on the counter.” She does and he says “That’s sounds like a Zebco 202, that’ll be $20 dollars”. She decides to take it and accidentally farts. The “Associate” rings up another five bucks. “OK, three dollars for the duck call and two dollars for the catfish stink bait.”
I still think he will say something for the July 4 celebrations !!…
A “very very little birdie” told me Brett did buy a house in Minneapolis 2 weeks ago…I claim no source on that one though…
Chili has his daughters wedding the following weekend…So it just would be a good time to start printing number 4 jerseys !!…
He’s probably just sick from eating too many chips and drinking too much Mountain Dew.
[…] According to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, Vikings WR Percy Harvin may have to attend 2010 rookie symposium: “[Harvin] was excused. Players who are excused are expected to make up the material presented. That may involve attendance at the following year’s symposium.” Harvin is concerned about how people will perceive his absence because of the question marks that surrounded his character entering the NFL draft in April. […]
[…] The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Minnesota Vikings signed fifth round linebacker Jasper Brinkley. Also, rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin might have to attend the 2010 Rookie symposium, because he missed it due to illness. […]
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We toned down the headlinea bitafter getting an official response from the NFL thatis now the last g […]
[…] Chip Scoggins (Star Tribune) says the former Georgia star suffered a knee injury in off-season workouts but is expected to be ready for training camp. […]
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