In a summer of discontent that has seen the wide receiver corps of the Minnesota Vikings go from one of the strongest in the NFL to one of the most troubled units on the team, they got a much needed shot in the arm with the return of Percy Harvin.
Harvin's first touch was a 34-yard catch and run from Brett Favre, and he received a loud ovation from the Metrodome crowd. He had only one other catch, which was a screen pass that went for a loss, but he showed no ill effects from the devastating migraines he has suffered from since the death of his grandmother early in trainng camp. And that is a hopeful sign for anxious VIking fans who are concerned about the depth of what was, just a few weeks ago, one of the strongest positions on the team.
Speaking of migraines, Harvin commented about them after the game, and the news was just as encoraging as his on the field performance. Said Harvin:
""We have a great plan [for dealing with the migraines]," said Harvin, who caught two passes for 30 yards in Saturday's 24-13 preseason victory over the Seattle Seahawks at the Metrodome. "We're all feeling confident. I know we've said that a couple of times now. But I think this time we found what the main cause was. I'm not saying I won't ever get a headache again, but hopefully we can slow it down a little bit."
If Harvin can return to his rookie of the year form and Bernard Berrian can remain healthy, the VIkings receivers will be nearly as potent in 2010 as they were in 2009. Add to that the sure hands of newly acquired Greg Camarillo, and the veteran presence of Greg Lewis and Javon Walker, and I don't see much of a drop off in production. Harvin and Berrian can make big plays, Camarillo looks to be a solid slot guy, and we have yet to mention TE Visanthe Shiancoe.
I like what I saw from the Vikings against Seattle, and was a reassuring performance after a summer of injuries, migraines, Favreapalooza, and and 'Schism Gate II', which never really materialized. Just like Schism Gate I.
The VIkings WRs will be just fine, and once Sidney Rice comes back, they'll be the most potent in the league.
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