Archive for Percy Harvin
2009 Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin
Posted by: | CommentsPer NFL.com, Percy Harvin will be named offensive Rookie of the Year for the 2009 season. Much like yesterday’s announcement of Brian Cushing’s award, Harvin was also expected to walk away with top honors, so there were no surprises when the award was determined. He has truly been one of the more important additions to a team that desperately needed some receiver help, and thanks to Brett Favre’s tutelage, he has exceeded expectations to the fullest.
Without question, Harvin had some demons coming out of college, and was not expected to be a top pick once the draft rolled around. He tested positive for a banned substance at the combine, which led teams to drop him on their boards out of fear for repeat abuses. Vikings coach Brad Childress visited him in Florida before the draft, and became determined to have him on his team. The Vikings drafted him at number 22, and the rest is history.
This year, Harvin caught 60 passes for 750 yards with six touchdowns, including over 125 yards on the ground as well. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, leading him to a season average of 27 yards per return that put him at number two all time for the Vikings. He was recently named to the Pro Bowl as the NFC’s kick returner, being the only offensive rookie to earn his way onto the team.
For Vikings collectors like me, it’s become tougher to collect Harvin’s stuff because his value has spiked so much due to his production. Considering that the Purple already have a large fan base, it also creates a lot of competition among people who want his cards. I have done pretty well, regardless of the other collectors, and here are a few of my favorites for the year.
When 2009 Upper Deck football came out early in the year, I was immediately excited for the chance to pull the Premier cards seeded at one per case. Harvin’s card is absolutely amazing, and still one of the most valuable cards of the year so far. It is also extremely rare at forty copies, which makes one of the rarest of the year as well. The card features an autograph, four swatches of player worn jersey, and a great design that fits well with the awesome picture.
I also love his National Chicle mini out of 2009 Philadelphia, as the painted look of the card is beyond awesome. If you are fortunate enough to get an autographed parallel, I envy you very much. The auto versions are hard signed by Percy on the card, and he has even included some creative inscriptions like “Wildcat” and “See you next year Tebow!” on a few selected ones.
Lastly, I would check out his rookie card out of 2009 Upper Deck, as it is one of the better pictures of the year. It is shot from an angle that you don’t usually see on a card, which is why this card looks so awesome. When the set was first released, I immediately jumped on this card, as I was enthralled by the way it looks. It may not feature an autograph or a jersey swatch, but it is still one of my favorite cards of the entire year.
If this year is any indication, Percy Harvin will be a star in the NFL for years to come. I was skeptical at first about him wearing a Vikings uniform, but he has earned my respect without a doubt. He plays each down with ferocious tenacity, punishing defenders who try to stop him at every turn. Teammate Adrian Peterson has already dubbed him “Little Phenom” for his ability on the field, though I don’t think Peterson is even prepared for the potential Harvin has. Peterson was named Rookie of the Year in 2007 himself, and I would think he has a pretty good grasp of what it takes to be successful. Fortunately for Vikings fans like me, we are going to get to see what he is talking about for many more seasons to come.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
Popularity: 34% [?]
Two Weeks of Emotional Swings for Vikings Fans
Posted by: | CommentsIt has been a great season for the Vikings and Brett Favre, but it easily could have been a lot worse coming into this weekend. After an UGLY loss to a Bears team they had already killed once in the season, their fate for a first round bye was out of their hands. First they needed to beat a Giants team that had lost badly to the Carolina Panthers the week before, and it was not going to be easy. If they won, they would need help from Dallas to beat Philadelphia to get the NFC’s number two seed and make Wild Card Weekend a much needed R&R weekend.
Coming out of the loss to the Bears, the team was in a state of despair, looking for a way to right the ship before they were forced to play a game that hadn’t been expected since Week 9. Devin Aromashodu of Chicago had exposed horrible weaknesses in their secondary last Monday night, and all of a sudden, the once rock steady defense looked vulnerable. Cutler and his new favorite target had torched the Vikings for 2 touchdowns, (including the game winner in overtime), and it became obvious that the Vikings could easily go out in the first round of the playoffs instead of avoiding it altogether.
I remember distinctly how I felt after that game. Disappointment was an understated adjective, especially after the way the second half of the game turned out. The Vikings were down 17 points at the beginning of the 3rd quarter and stormed all the way back to tie the game at 23 with less than five minutes to go. After a great return by Danieal Manning, the Bears scored quickly on another touchdown pass from Cutler to Bennett, leaving my hopes for a much needed win in peril. In true Favrian fashion (yes, he has done it so many times, there is now a word for it), the forever young gunslinger drove down the field, and then lobbed a sweet touch pass to Sidney Rice in the end zone as time expired. I was ecstatic to say the least. The rest, I’m sure you have seen a hundred times before the Week 17 games started. Aromashodu caught two passes, the Vikings were down and out, and the last game of the season became a MUST win.
It didn’t seem like Favre got the message, as he showed little concern for the next game on the schedule. To him it was just another game, as he was not letting the massive pressure crush the team under the weight of a pending wild card weekend matchup. Rumors of his continued problems with coach Brad Childress continued to swirl, along with rampant discussion of how the mighty Vikings had gone from sure thing to underdog.
All of that gloomy sentiment was gone in a matter of minutes, as the Vikings’ opening drive against a banged up Giants defense went for six points. By halftime it was 31-0, and the game was pretty much over before any seconds of the third quarter had ticked off the clock. Favre played until it was 41-0, and Vikings fans put on their brand new Cowboys hats to cheer on their new favorite team.
After the Cowboys throttled the Eagles (securing a first round bye for Minnesota in the process), the season’s prospects suddenly had a much sunnier outlook. Favre’s 40 year old body will have an extra week to rest, and fans who were on the verge of a coronary during these last two weeks will have 14 more days to get that cardio into their exercise regimens. Not only will the Vikings have a shot at going deep into the playoffs for the first time in a long time, but seven of Favre’s teammates will be joining him in the Pro Bowl as well.
First time All-Pro Sidney Rice had the best year of his young career, catching close to 80 passes and over 1300 yards. Adrian Peterson’s season may not have been as explosive this year, but his 18 touchdowns speak for themselves. He also caught almost 50 passes out of the backfield, something that he has never done, even while at Oklahoma. Jared Allen ended the year leading the NFC in sacks with 14.5, making him one of the most feared pass rushers in the league. Although Percy Harvin did not get selected as a kick returner for the NFC squad, he is the front runner for the Rookie of the Year hardware, and may still be selected if players decide not to make the trip Miami.
Personally, I am still not sold on the Vikings hope for another Super Bowl appearance, but I am a lot more confident after they took the Giants out behind the shed. They seemed back on top, with Favre doing everything right against a team that looked to be the one to beat in the NFC five weeks ago. Of course, they will either have to beat Green Bay or Arizona to get to whoever wins in New Orleans. Yet, my level of concern is still small leading up to that game. Hopefully Antoine Winfield and Pat Williams will have time to heal up, which is probably the best part of having a week off next week. The defense will need to fix all the problems from the Chicago and Carolina games, with a win being the ultimate result.
As a lifelong Vikings fan, I will say that I do not celebrate until its all over, so this wonderful turnout for Week 17 is just another link in the chain for me. I will be there with horns on for the divisional round, and I am hoping that things turn out well. The Vikings do have a legitimate shot to go deep this year, and my favorite players Peterson, Rice and Harvin should be right there in the trenches with the Silver Fox slugging it out. At this point, I can only hope that booking my plane tickets to Miami will be the ultimate result.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
Popularity: 20% [?]
2009 Rookie of the Year Candidates
Posted by: | CommentsThe NFL season is winding down, and the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. I have followed the rookies for the whole year on both my site and this one, keeping a close eye on those who stand out as top of the class. With the offensive and defensive Rookie of the Year award, there are a few contenders that are at the forefront of the discussion. Many of these rookies have won at least one of the Upper Deck Rookie of the Week awards, and there are still three weeks left for the others to jump on board.
First, I want to discuss my thoughts on the offensive side of the ball, as these are the players that usually receive the most attention. Each of these candidates has meant a great deal to their team (some of which have even won games single handedly). They’ve also had some of the better rookie seasons in recent memory, and the exclamation point will be on the way for two of them come February.
Percy Harvin
If there is one player that has redefined the word “electrifying” this year, Percy Harvin is him. In addition to catching six TD passes from Brett Favre, he also has run back two kicks for touchdowns as well. He leads all rookies in plays over twenty yards from scrimmage, and has been Favre’s favorite third down target for the whole year. He has also functioned as a running back in some cases, carrying the ball out of the Wildcat and motion formations (some of which went for good yardage). He is pretty much the complete package, but the problem of migraines late in the season may hamper his run for this award. He has already missed one game, and is on track to miss at least one more. Regardless, his odds are still pretty good to come home with the trophy.
Knowshon Moreno
Denver has always been famous for churning out great running backs, and Moreno is no exception. He leads rookie running backs in yards, attempts, yards per carry, touchdowns, and has put together a very nice rookie campaign. Denver started off as one of the three undefeated teams into the middle of the season, and Moreno was a factor in those wins. His five touchdowns are tops on the team, and he is primed for a 1,000 yard season with 837 yards and three weeks to go. Moreno also looks like he will be a force in the years to come, as the Broncos running game has drastically improved with his arrival. His drawbacks are few, but the ones that stick out in my mind are a few key fumbles in key situations. However, this shouldn’t hurt him too much: if Harvin falters and misses the last few games, Moreno is probably the favorite.
Matt Stafford
Before last year, rookie quarterbacks were never expected to put up good seasons due to the time needed to develop into an efficient playmaker. Stafford was drafted by the Lions to take over the reins as soon as possible and has done that effectively. He brought the first two wins in the last two years to the team, one coming on the last play of the game with a hurt shoulder. He also set the rookie record for touchdowns and passing yardage in a single game, making a good case for his winning the award. But the problem with Stafford all season has been injuries, as he missed a number of games with knee and shoulder problems. Stafford has done his best to make us forget those weeks, but at this point he will need some big numbers to convince us that he deserves consideration.
Mark Sanchez
This season has been about as big of a roller coaster as it could be for Sanchez, starting very high and going through some twists and turns. Right now, the roller coaster is probably at its lowest, with Sanchez having missed the last game, but the team record could do a lot more for him when compared to Stafford. Sanchez has also thrown a lot of interceptions, but those came on the back of some great performances early in the season. I’m not sure how much of a chance he has right now, but he still has some time to make his case.
Beanie Wells
Although he started off slow, Wells has slowly become the running man in Arizona, putting up touchdowns in the last few games. He has also performed above expectations with yards per carry average, and has done a very good job in getting the struggling Cardinals running game on track. It used to be that the Cardinals would come in and hit you with the gruesome wide receiver twosome, but now there is an added element with Wells carrying the ball. I like Wells’ potential in years to come . . . but as for Rookie of the Year, he is a longshot.
Hakeem Nicks
I think Hakeem Nicks has quietly put together an awesome rookie season. He leads the rookies in receiving yards and is tied for the lead in touchdown receptions, but hasn’t received the same kind of attention as someone like Harvin. He definitely has a shot if the Giants can put together a nice run to get into the playoffs, but it will take some major convincing to dethrone the people ahead of him.
When it comes to defensive Rookie of the Year, there are really only two names in the discussion, mainly because of how well they have performed in their team’s overall defensive arrangement.
Brian Cushing
Cushing is the only rookie to have put up 100 tackles, and has also had 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and a few interceptions. He has truly been a one man wrecking crew, and his credentials are top notch for Defensive ROY. I would say that Cushing is basically the end all and be all of this award, but the overall Texans defense has been less than stellar.
Clay Matthews
Matthews has been a freaking beast for the Packers in their 3-4 defense. He has 8.0 sacks and has put together an awesome season. He may only have 40 tackles, but he did rip away a touchdown from Adrian Peterson when the Packers played the Vikings early in the season. Its going to be him or Cushing, and that is a no doubter.
With that, my picks so far are going to be Percy Harvin and Brian Cushing, but there is still a chunk of season left to play. Many of the rookies are going to be playing on teams that are fighting for their lives, and that may lead to some changes in the rankings. Who knows: once the season comes to an end, we may have someone new altogether.
Also, be sure to continue to enter the codes from all of your favorite Upper Deck cards, as you still have the chance to win great prizes if your code matches the Rookie of the Week. Of course, it couldn’t hurt to bank on these guys, as they are mostly all past winners. You can also win an autographed football of all the rookies who attended the 2009 Rookie Premiere, giving you another reason to diligently follow the Own The Rookies site.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: 69% [?]
NFL Midseason Review
Posted by: | CommentsI don’t think the 2009 NFL season could have had a crazier start. Storylines aplenty have led to a buzz that I haven’t seen for a few years in this league. Every week a new player emerges, or another top team goes down . . . and the fans are eating it up. I have spent more time this year watching and analyzing than I ever have, and now that we’re at the halfway point, here are my favorite storylines from weeks one through nine.
Brett Favre Shows That Age IS Just a Number
I don’t think there is a Vikings fan (or Packers fan for that matter) that expected this kind of success from an aged veteran like Favre. No matter what we had come to expect from his past success, Favre is outplaying his own precedent. He has led the Vikings to the best record they have had in years, has the second best QB rating in the league by less than a point, and has only thrown three interceptions against 17 touchdowns. He is the reason for the Vikings wonderful success so far, even beating his former team in his former stomping ground. At this point, he is worth the coverage he gets on TV.
Titans Start 0-6
Last year, the Titans started 9-0 and finished at the top of the AFC in just about every category. This year, they seem to have more problems than solutions, starting out with six losses including a 59-0 bloodbath versus the Patriots. There hasn’t been a downturn like this as long as I can remember, and Titans fans are not happy.
There have been some bright spots, including two straight wins to break their losing streak, but the damage is already done.
Chris Johnson Explodes
For as bad as the Titans season has been, Chris Johnson has been just the opposite. He has racked up a 6+ yards per carry average as well as seven total TDs on his way to 959 rushing yards so far. He has had two games already where he has rushed for 200 yards, and is the only reason why the season hasn’t been a complete failure for Tennessee. Chris Johnson is showing with every attempt that he is worthy of consideration with the top backs in the league, and is not showing any signs of stopping.
The Lions Win a Game
It took a long, long time, but thanks to a good game from #1 pick Matthew Stafford, the Lions broke their streak. It was against a struggling Washington Redkins team, but a win is a win. They have had trouble getting win number two under their belts, but there is more promise now with a player like Stafford taking the snaps. It also has hurt that both Stafford and stand out receiver Calvin Johnson have missed games, but at least things are looking up.
Drew Brees and the Saints Continue Right Where They Left Off
The Saints are undefeated in week nine for the first time since the 60s, and Drew Brees is in MVP form. Last year, Brees was just a few yards short of setting the all-time single season passing record, and he hasn’t done anything to hint that he won’t be there again this year. The Saints are now the team to beat in the NFC, but it won’t be an easy run. They still have a few games left that could separate the men from the boys: but as of now, they are at the top looking down.
Peyton Manning Looks Like an MVP Again
A few years ago, Manning set the record for touchdown passes in a single season, and won the MVP. Last year, he did it again, though for he faced a lot more hurdles. This year he looks like he is back to his former self, playing like master on the field. He is second in the league in yardage and TDs, and the Colts are 8-0. Manning is looking like he is primed to win his second Super Bowl, and he may take home MVP number four in the process.
Percy Harvin and Mark Sanchez Take the League by Storm
Every year, there are a few rookies that look like they are in line for greatness, putting up good numbers with relative ease. Last year it was Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, this year it is Percy Harvin and Mark Sanchez. Harvin is a key cog in the Vikings first place NFC North record, returning two kicks for TDs, and catching three others. He also has a KR avg that is second in the league, in addition to his 28 catches.
Mark Sanchez has had a similar experience, even though his team doesn’t have the wins to show for it. He looks poised in the pocket, he makes veteran plays, and he plays with the tenacity of a champion. Sanchez may have thrown 10 interceptions, but he has 11 total touchdowns to make up for it. For a rookie QB with limited college experience, he is playing way above expectations.
Midseason Awards
MVP: Drew Brees
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing
Breakout Player of the Year: Chris Johnson
Playoff Teams:
Minnesota
New Orleans
Dallas
Philadelphia
San Fransisco
Arizona
New England
Indianapolis
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Denver
San Diego
Super Bowl Picks:
AFC: Indianapolis
NFC: Dallas
CHAMPION: Indianapolis
We are far from over with stories from the 2009 season, but it’s already been a wild ride that gets me excited each and every week. Personally, I am hoping that my Vikings will finally make it to and win the Super Bowl, but with teams like New Orleans and Dallas running around, nothing is a safe bet. Maybe when all is said and done, it will seem commonplace to have this much action in one go around, but right now, I’m happy to just sit back and take it all in.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: 14% [?]
Rookie of the Week: Week 8 – Percy Harvin
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the most exciting reasons to collect NFL rookie cards is that you get to watch their values spike if the player performs well on the field. To help capture that excitement, Upper Deck launched a new website to help collectors track 2009 NFL rookie cards, but also make predictions on which rookie would have the best week at OwnTheRookies.com.
Collectors who successfully guess Upper Deck’s “Rookie of the Week” will be entered into a drawing to win a box of 2009 NFL trading cards. For his great performance in both receiving and kick returns, Minnesota’s Percy Harvin has been named Upper Deck’s top rookie of Week 8. If you entered codes from Harvin’s cards last week, stay tuned to the website to see if you are a winner!
In all seriousness, I could go on for pages about what Percy Harvin brings to the Vikings squad, but this is more about a rookie that has become more than just another piece to the puzzle. He has explosiveness, speed, great hands, and a fearless attack each time he touches the ball; but more than that, he brings an element to the field that few can match. Whenever Harvin comes into the huddle, teams have to adjust for his many capabilities. That means if he is in the back field, they have to play him like a back with speed and power. If he is in motion, they have to account for the reverse. If he is returning the kick, they have to kick away from him. It’s all part of the problems created for the opposition by a multi-tool player.
Oddly enough, when the Vikings drafted Harvin, I was skeptical of his commitment to the game (mostly because he failed his combine drug test). I thought a tackle like Michael Oher would have been a better investment for the Vikings who needed O-line help. Little did I know, Harvin came into camp as one of the most spine-tingling players to put on the purple and gold in a long time. Immediately, Coach Brad Childress commented on the new looks they could give with Harvin in the lineup, and how his play calling could accommodate it. I was pumped.
Harvin didn’t disappoint, scoring TDs in his first three games, including a kickoff return of more than 100 yards against the 49ers. He also was the key “go to” part of the Vikings offense, especially on third down, when he became Favre’s favorite target to hit. From that point forward, Vikings fans knew that Harvin was the right choice for the team.
Although he had a shoulder injury that limited his production in weeks five through seven, he has still managed five total touchdowns, including another kickoff return and a long touchdown catch in Sunday’s game versus the rival Packers. He has also had 28 receptions for 369 yards, which further illustrates his importance to the team.
I’ll be the first to admit that the Packers game was not a slam dunk coming out of the gate, but Harvin did his best to make it look easy. He averaged 35 yards per return on his five chances, meaning that the Vikings had an average field position around the 40 or 45 each time he got the ball. His return in the second half set the Vikings up for a touchdown they needed desperately, and his 51 yard catch looked better than plays I’ve run on Madden. He also had two key third-and-long catches that extended drives, something that was a necessity to beat a surging Packers comeback. Everywhere the Packers defense looked, Harvin was there blowing it up.
Because of his college career, Harvin has always had value in the hobby, even before his coming out party against Cleveland during Week 1. Since that point, he has moved into the top of the draft class in the worth of his cards, making every diehard Vikings collector, like myself, very happy.
The good thing about a player being at the top is that there are always going to be a lot of choices in the cards that are out there. Harvin definitely falls in that category. His most sought after cards of the year have probably been out of 2009 Upper Deck and 2009 Philadelphia, where he inscribed “See You Next Year Tebow” on a few of the hard signed offerings from those products. Because the inscriptions were so rare, and because there are a ton of Florida Gator fans, these cards have reached astronomical values.
Harvin also has a number of cards in the newly released SP Threads set, with my favorite being his triple auto with other receiver standouts Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin. I can see this one being incredibly valuable a few years from now, as all three have the potential to break out as superstars.
Harvin also has some good looking, hard signed, and affordable options in both Heroes and Draft, which should be great for both Vikings and Gator fans alike. These cards won’t break the bank, and you can still get a card that has been handled and signed by the player. I have both, and I think they are some of the better looking cards out there.
Lastly, be sure to look for Harvin in both SP Signature edition (being released this week) and Upper Deck Black (released on 11/24), as both sets should carry their value very nicely. The designs look amazing as well, so I know that I will be personally chasing them as soon as they hit.
For as much stock as we put into rookies before the season start, there are few that actually produce to their hype’s level on the field. I can guarantee you that Coach Childress may even grow some of his hair back knowing that Harvin has already exceeded some of those expectations. It’s definitely a luxury having a guy that can score on any play, and Harvin is quickly maturing into a role that could be just the person to fill that need.
Check in next week for the newest rookie to win “Rookie of the Week” honors, and don’t forget to enter in all your rookie card codes from the Upper Deck products you have collected so far. Not only can you win prizes, but the site has some great features that allow you to track rookies and their cards this season!
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
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