No Section

Harvin lobbying hard to return kickoffs Sunday

Says the coaches are battling it out, but receiver wants

By Mark Craig

September 8, 2011 at 9:02PM

Percy Harvin (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

There's a tug-of-war going on at Winter Park between coach Leslie Frazier and special teams coach Mike Priefer.

In the middle is Percy Harvin and how much the team should risk using the talented receiver as a talent kickoff returner.

Harvin made it clear where he stands on the matter. He wants to return kicks in Sunday's opener and he's not shy about saying so.

"I'm lobbying hard," Harvin said in the locker room today. "Special teams coach came up and asked me and I told him `definitely.' Him and coach are going back and forth. Nothing bad. We've been having a little laugh with it. We'll see game time."

Preifer said Harvin is No. 1 on the depth chart pending his availability. RB Lorenzo Booker is No. 2.

"If the situation is right, we're going to use Percy," Priefer said. "I would hope. That would be my first choice. Like I've said a few times during training camp, this summer, it's going to be kind of a play-by-play decision between the head coach and myself, with, obviously, coach Frazier making the final decision.

"But [Harvin] would be No. 1 on the depth chart if he's rested. Or he might be heavily involved in the next offensive series. Whatever the case may be. It will be a play-by-play type of decision."

Harvin said he doesn't view kickoffs as a risk.

"It's a contact sport," Harvin said. "No matter what you're doing, blocking, anything, there's goiing to be contact. So I don't look at that. I go 100 miles an hour and it is what it is."

Harvin also doesn't think he'll be too tired on offense if he returns kicks.

"That's just coach [Frazier] kind of over-thinking right now," Harvin said. "We have talked about that, saying when I can rest. I'm seeing a lot of positions this week. We talked about it. I'll be ready to go."

Harvin also compared this preseason to last year's when he experienced bouts with migraines.

"Oh, man. it was a 360 turn for me," Harvin said. "Last year was rough for me. This year, I pretty much have a clean slate, other than the bruised rib, which was nothing."

Still no headaches?

"All good, man," Harvin said. "All good."

Other highlights:

RT Phil Loadholt and DT Letroy Guion weren't at practice during the first 20 minutes that are open to reporters. Rookie Christian Ballard was working with the first defensive line in Guion's place.
Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said QB Donovan McNabb hurt his right wrist either the week of the Dallas preseason game or in the game. McNabb is on the injury report but practiced Wednesday and was throwing passes during the period open to the media. "He's done a good job on treatment and working through the condition," Musgrave said.
Defensive coordinator Fred Pagac said Xavier Adibi, who was claimed off waivers on Sunday, may end up working some at weak-side linebacker in practice. Adibi is focusing on backing up at middle linebacker now.
Joe Webb wants to be the No. 2 quarterback, but he doesn't sound too disappointed that he's the No. 3. That will allow him more freedom to be used as an athlete in different roles. "It's kind of fun to see what Bill Musgrave has in store for me," Webb said. "I think he's doing a great job utilizing all his weapons."
According to ESPN, the Vikings now rank third in salary cap space available among NFC North teams. The Vikings created $2.8 million of space by signing LB Chad Greenway to a long-term deal. That puts the Vikings $4.5 million under the cap. The Bears are $17.6 million under, the Packers are $7.6 million under and the Lions are $3.3 million under.

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).