Sometimes in training camp, tempers flare. For the second straight day in Minnesota Vikings camp, this has been the case with receiver Percy Harvin and rookie safety Harrison Smith.
On Tuesday, Harvin caught a touchdown pass against Smith and stood over him. Smith didn't appreciate it and had some words for him. Then, on Wednesday, there was a more substantial incident, via Tom Pelissero and Judd Zulgad of 1500 ESPN:
Harvin caught a pass on a short route from Christian Ponder on the second play of a third-down drill and turned upfield, where he collided with Smith, the first-round draft pick from Notre Dame.
Players were in shells, not pads, but the collision was loud enough to draw a rise from the crowd. Harvin continued trying to run downfield. Smith didn't let up. Harvin recoiled and appeared to consider throwing the ball at Smith before going facemask to facemask with him instead.
Receiver Jerome Simpson ran downfield and shoved Smith away. Then, about a dozen other players descended on the scene -- some of them jokingly pulling each other away from the pile -- and Harvin had to be held back as Smith continued chirping.
Harvin walked off the field with a Vikings media relations official and didn't comment. Smith said he was "not really sure" what happened on the play and downplayed the exchange as part of the game.
Smith, who is trying to earn a starting job, said, "It's an aggressive sport played by aggressive people, so that stuff happens."
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