Best In The League?

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway recently stated that teammate Percy Harvin is the best football player in the league. Greenway is probably a little biased but I tend to agree with him. I'm probably a little biased as well. Based on his play from the second half of last season and through the first three games of this season, Harvin should be in any conversation concerning the best players. His play has been amazing. What little offense the Vikings showed last season revolved around the incredible versatility of Harvin. Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier has often mentioned encounters with defensive coaches from other teams approaching him in the offseason speaking of the chore it is to defend Percy Harvin. Many teams will put a receiver in the backfield as a gimmick. A distraction. The Vikings can put Harvin in the backfield as a legitimate running threat. Harvin is second only to Adrian Peterson as a running threat out of the backfield on the team. The Vikings have three players listed as running backs on the roster. All three are power running backs. Most teams prefer having a back or two that is quick and shifty as a change of pace or as a receiving threat. The Vikings don't have to worry about carrying a back like that since they already have a receiver like that. He runs more like a back than any receiver that I have ever seen. He might even be more comfortable lining up in the backfield as he still seems to be in the process of learning the nuances of running routes. It should scare defenses to think that he could get even better as a receiver. Harvin's versatility is a nightmare for defensive coordinators. First they have to find him. Then they have to follow him. Then they have to catch him. Then they have to tackle him. Not one of those is an easy thing to do. At 5'10" and about 190lbs, Harvin is a little bull when he has the ball in his hands. If defenders don't wrap him up they won't tackle him very often. He doesn't go down easy. If they just try to hit him they'll end up on their back. Too many defenders have discovered this and few seem to have learned. It's amazing to watch him run. Not only is Harvin an offensive threat he's one of the best kick returners in the league. That's not the end of his skills. Last season he was awarded a game ball for his downfield blocking in a victory over the Arizona Cardinals. His impact really is all over the field. In all phases. Returning kicks, catching the ball, running the ball, blocking. Teams have to be so aware of Harvin's whereabouts that he can have a tremendous impact as a decoy. He does everything. Pretty much the only effective defense against Harvin has been his unfortunate migraines. He's suffered from them pretty consistently since childhood. Well, that defense appears to be at an end. Knock on wood. His doctors seem to have found treatments that work. He hasn't experienced a migraine in nearly a year. Sorry, defenses. Percy Harvin will be there on gameday.

In my opinion, Percy Harvin is playing football at a level rivaling that of any player in the league. If nothing else, he is the most difficult to defend player in the league. He's a beast.