Rick Spielman singing same song on Percy Harvin's future with Vikings
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INDIANAPOLIS -- Rick Spielman isn't changing his stance on Percy Harvin's future with the Minnesota Vikings. He isn't even changing up the words.
"We have no intent to trade Percy Harvin," Spielman responded to the first question at his Thursday media conference here at the NFL combine.
"Anything related to his contract or any discussion will all be kept internally. I think everybody understands what type of player Percy Harvin is. He's a dynamic playmaker, not only on offense but ... also what he brings us as a kickoff returner."
Spielman said the same thing last week in a media session at Winter Park. He repeated the phrase several more times on Thursday, chuckling when asked to close his podium session if "no intent" means the Vikings won't trade Harvin at all.
"We have no intent of trading Percy Harvin," Spielman said, grinning. "Thank you."
Harvin, 24, is entering the last year of his five-year rookie contract, with a scheduled base salary of $2.9 million. He privately has made clear he expects a new deal since last summer, when he expressed unhappiness at the Vikings' minicamp and briefly requested a trade.
Several NFL sources told 1500ESPN.com last week Harvin is seeking a contract worth upwards of $10 million a year, making him one of the NFL's highest-paid receivers. That's one of several complicating factors in any trade for a volatile player with a history of clashing with coaches.
In a separate session with a small group of Twin Cities reporters, Spielman said no one except reporters have asked him about Harvin since he arrived here on Wednesday. Pressed on whether he's serious, Spielman joked the pilot and cab driver both kept their mouths shut.
Why wouldn't GMs ask about such a player being available? Wouldn't Spielman ask if the situation were reversed?
"Well," he said, "we have no intent on trading Percy Harvin."
