Report: Percy Harvin nearly walked out on Vikings last year

Ready for another bizarre story involving Percy Harvin, the talented yet sometimes disruptive wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Vikings could be poised to part ways with Harvin, who is under contract through 2013, if they land Mike Wallace, the prize of the free-agent market in the estimation of many.

Surely, the Vikings will have to overpay for Wallace, the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver. That is the nature of free agency. But landing Wallace could then allow the Vikings to shop Harvin, something that general manager Rick Spielman has adamantly denied is happening to this point.

Cole reports Harvin believes he has value approaching Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions and is a class above Vincent Jackson and Dwayne Bowe, who have established market value at about $11 per season, well short of the $16.5 million Johnson’s deal averages.

So, it would be difficult for the Vikings to sign Havin for the long haul at this point and after repeated run-ins with the franchise, could Minnesota trust Harvin? According to Cole, Harvin threatened to walk out on the team before the start of last season after New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, a teammate of Harvin’s at Florida, received a contract extension after only two seasons in the NFL.

Harvin has said his issues in the past with the club were not about money. The old adage, of course, is when they say it’s not about money, it’s only about money. The Vikings will need a lot of it to lure Wallace, who might not be excited to play with quarterback Christian Ponder. If they can, it will make it easier to deal Harvin but the Vikings will need to find a club secure enough to handle the volatile playmaker.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune