Publicly, Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder said repeatedly that he didn’t want the team to trade receiver Percy Harvin. Privately, Harvin’s complaints about Ponder were apparently a significant factor in the team’s decision that Harvin had to go.
After the Vikings agreed to trade Harvin to the Seahawks, Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports reported that the last straw from the Vikings’ perspective is that Harvin complained that Ponder was not good enough.
Harvin certainly can’t say Ponder wasn’t getting him the ball: Harvin had 62 catches before he suffered a season-ending injury in Week Nine, so Ponder was putting the ball in Harvin’s hands repeatedly. But Ponder did struggle at times during his second pro season, and it’s not particularly surprising that Harvin was getting frustrated.
The question in Seattle is whether Harvin will keep complaining, or whether Russell Wilson will prove to be the kind of quarterback who can keep Harvin happy. If Harvin is a happy camper who keeps his nose clean, he’s one of the best playmakers in the NFL with the ball in his hands. What Harvin will want Wilson to do is get the ball in his hands regularly.