My NFL Forums | NFL Forums & Blogs

Percy in purple? Signs are pointing to it

Brad Childress often has talked about "a culture of accountability" for his players since taking over as Vikings coach in 2006. However, that philosophy hasn't slammed the door on giving guys a second, or even third, chance in some cases. Defensive linemen Jared Allen and Fred Evans are two examples.

Could Percy Harvin join that list?

Amid indications that the Vikings are focusing on taking the wide receiver from Florida with the 22nd pick in the NFL draft on Saturday, the National Football Post reported Thursday that Childress flew to Gainesville, Fla., a day earlier to meet with Harvin. Harvin is considered an elite talent, but concerns about his character and health issues appear to have scared off several teams.

Rick Spielman, the Vikings vice president of player personnel, and Childress both declined to say whether Childress made the trip to Florida during a predraft news conference Thursday at Winter Park, but the amount of due diligence the organization is doing is a clear sign of its interest in Harvin. It's also an indication that Harvin isn't one of the 80-plus prospects who has received a red dot from the Vikings, meaning the team wouldn't consider taking that player under any circumstance because of character or health concerns.

"What I would say, if you're doing that, just in general, if a team is going out to do stuff, they're doing just some last-minute things," Spielman said of making a late trip to talk to a prospect. "I know there are a couple teams that are out this week. You can't bring the players into the facility. That ended this week. So the only chance you have if there is something that popped up in a meeting or something that you definitely wanted to confirm, then you have to go out to where that player is."

LINK >> Percy in purple? Signs are pointing to it

__________________