Agent: Vikings sign RB DuJuan Harris

AP

Running back DuJuan Harris has found a new home — and with one of Green Bay’s division rivals.

Harris, whom the Packers did not tender as an exclusive-rights free agent, has signed a one-year contract with the Vikings, agent Andy Simms announced on Twitter.

The 26-year-old Harris has rushed for 263 yards and two touchdowns on 59 carries in his NFL career. Before spending three seasons with Green Bay (2012-2014), he had stints with Jacksonville (2011-2012) and Pittsburgh (2012).

Harris will vie for a reserve role with the Vikings, who could have solid backfield depth if Adrian Peterson returns to the fold.

121 responses to “Agent: Vikings sign RB DuJuan Harris

  1. I know the Vikings brass have a real thing for Packer cast offs. I don’t think we really want to get into signing their special teams players.

  2. Vikings fans continually claim that the Packers are a one man team; Rodgers surrounded by terrible players ……

    ….And yet they keep picking up our scraps.

    SkoLOL

  3. Harris made a wise choice coming to a team with no RB, and no QB. If he can show just a little burst, I bet he can parlay this chance in the NFDL into a real NFL contract again.

    DaJuan, Welcome to the sea of purple pansies! Here’s your complimentary Heidi wig, so you fit in while you’re in town!

  4. Seriously Minnesota, you will never become better than the Packers as long as you keep picking up guy not good enough to stay with the Packers. It’s really a matter of simple math.

  5. This might be a record for the Vikings. They currently have 4 ex-Packers on their roster.

  6. I guess it was time for the Vikings to make a SWITCH
    Even tho we are still making AP RICH
    I’m so excited to watch Mike Wallace run
    When Teddy overthrows him it’ll still be fun
    To login to my PFT account, and make a silly rhyme
    About the latest Viking to be arrested for a crime

  7. Best player ever on the best team ever. He will run for 10,000 yards and the vikings will win every game by 50 points this year.

  8. Vikings got a good player. I hope he does well and is given a chance to show his full potential. Not happy the Packers didn’t find creative ways to use him before letting him go. He runs all-out all the time.

  9. This is just a case of Minnesota nice. It’s actually a detox program all people should go through after spending too much time in Green Bay.

  10. Seriously Minnesota, you will never become better than the Packers as long as you keep picking up guy not good enough to stay with the Packers. It’s really a matter of simple math…………………

    As the Packers pick up no one to get better over last year…

  11. He probably won’t make the team, whether Peterson comes back or not. McKinnon and Asiata, barring injury, are locks to make the roster. If AP doesn’t return, at best, Harris will have to beat out Joe Banyard, and that’s not going to be an easy task.

  12. He makes 5 if Peterson plays. The Vikes always go to camp with 7-8 halfbacks, he’s nothing but camp fodder.

  13. I have to give the Vikings credit…this guy is actually pretty good. There just wasn’t any room for him in Green Bay, and it looks like there will be room in Minnesotaa very soon.

  14. I hope Ted Thompson is getting a salary for being the General Manager of two teams. The Packers AND the Vikings.

  15. codythao35 says:
    Mar 19, 2015 4:59 PM
    Whoever vies think can help. Just like packers signing college players.
    _______

    Yes when you have a system, like the Packers and can find players that FIT that system, you can create a lot of depth, and that helps because Players can get time in that system, then you can get good UFA like Sam Shields, and Tramon Williams.

  16. rosstuckershair says:
    Mar 19, 2015 5:12 PM
    Seriously Minnesota, you will never become better than the Packers as long as you keep picking up guy not good enough to stay with the Packers. It’s really a matter of simple math…………………

    As the Packers pick up no one to get better over last year…
    ——————————————————–

    Ted does nothing in free agency every year. He is a draft and develop GM. Yet, every year, the Packers are in the playoffs and the Vikings are not.

    While this may seem counter-intuitive, in fact, statistically, most free agent signings are a bust and a waste of money. Look no further than Greg Jennings.

  17. FlashPatterson says:
    Mar 19, 2015 4:55 PM
    Seriously? Why? This is a moronic move. 1. because we don’t need him. 2. because it only feeds the Packer trolls.
    _____

    Vikings make a move that makes the team better, and the Vikings still gripe about it.

    The team is about .500 and fans are apparently content with it.

  18. I think Harris is training camp fodder.

    AP, if he stays with the Vikings, usually doesn’t play in the preseason.

    Need to have bodies when the 3rd string goes out and plays big minutes in the early preseason games (we have 5 this year).

    I’m sure Harris signed for a relatively small number of boxes of Cracker Jacks with his 263 career rushing yards on his resume.

    He gets cut when the roster goes from 90 to 75 – unless he impresses on special teams.

  19. The Vikings have long used the Packers scouting department and roster throw-aways as their main source of talent acquisition. They figure the Packers scrubs should be enough to at least propel them to 3rd place in the division.

  20. shaggytoodle says:

    The team is about .500 and fans are apparently content with it.
    *******************************************

    .539 winning percentage – 9th best in the NFL – right behind the NE Patriots.

    Best is the Cowboys at .575 and the worst is the Buccaneers at .385.

    As usual, fans who like green and gold don’t know much about football.

  21. This is one of those reminders that no matter what else is going wrong in this crazy world of ours, the Vikings will always be there with some comic relief.

  22. Ted does nothing in free agency every year. He is a draft and develop GM. Yet, every year, the Packers are in the playoffs and the Vikings are not.

    While this may seem counter-intuitive, in fact, statistically, most free agent signings are a bust and a waste of money. Look no further than Greg Jennings…..

    BS a 6-10 team without Aaron Rodgers. He and Muffin would have been gone several years ago without him

  23. I don’t get it. Instead of rooting for future ex packer players who eventually join the vikings, viking fans should just root for them when they’re all together on one team and in their prime on the packers.

    Viking fans can say nothing to justify why their GM continues to sign every ex packer. You want to be us, but you ain’t us. Lol so funny. We are and always will be superior to you little trolls.

  24. A couple of years ago Mike McCarthy was basing his offense around DuJuan Harris until he blew out a knee.

    From August 27th, 2013:

    [b]“Every offseason, you go through evaluations of your offense, you do offseason studies, you project how you envision your offense looking and then you kind of confirm things after the draft,” said McCarthy, who has promised time and again that the Packers’ running game would be improved this season. “You have a vision, packages in place on how you’re going to start the season. I’ll just tell you this: DuJuan was a big part of particularly my individual focus for this season.”[/b]

    Good luck, Mr. Harris. Just not against the Packers.

  25. On a completely unrelated note, what are some of the telltale signs that your favorite team obsesses over how they might one day beat the mighty 13 time World Champion Green Bay Packers?

  26. I hear Greyhound has a one way route from Lambeau to Minnecra#olis. Oh, those pathetic Vikings.

  27. What do you mean bad choice? Did you calculate his numbers? I didn’t think so, I’ll take a 26 yr old back with a 4.5 yard per run average any day.
    Zimmer is a wiz at finding the best talent from a player by paying attention to detail and TEACHING.
    Packers starting RB Eddie Lacey has a 4.4 yd career
    ave.
    Arian Foster has a 4.5 yd career ave
    Marshawn Lynch has a 4.3 career ave
    Matt Forte has a 3.9 career ave
    I’d say that was a decent signing and cheap!
    Facts are facts so Trolls…. BRING IT ON!

  28. rosstuckershair says:
    Mar 19, 2015 5:31 PM
    Ted does nothing in free agency every year. He is a draft and develop GM. Yet, every year, the Packers are in the playoffs and the Vikings are not.

    While this may seem counter-intuitive, in fact, statistically, most free agent signings are a bust and a waste of money. Look no further than Greg Jennings…..

    BS a 6-10 team without Aaron Rodgers. He and Muffin would have been gone several years ago without him
    =====================================

    First, most teams are 6-10 at best without a decent quarterback. Second, if the rest of the Packers aren’t any good, why are the Vikings picking up the players the Packers cut and why are other teams offering wads of cash to our free agents? (see: Randall Cobb, Bulaga, T. Williams, D. House)….

    Hint: It’s because the Packers have a good TEAM.

  29. It a little crazy how Packer trolls vacillate.

    In the last Viking article (they can’t get enough Viking news) they were saying no free agents want to go to MN.

    Yet every year there seems to be a mass exodus to purpler pastures to the west.

    Fact is, according to Pro Football Focus Green Bay is among the five least appealing venues for free agents.

  30. Vikings are getting a good player. He was a good change of pace back and great at catching the ball out of the backfield. Still dont understand why they didnt use him more.

    Good luck Harris… you will need it in MN!

  31. As a Viking fan I don’t even care about these moves until training camp starts. Every year teams go to camp with way more players than they keep. As it stands they already have Joe Banyard, Dominique Williams and Henry Josey at rb behind Asiata,McKinnon, and maybe AP. So it’s just funny that he ended up there. Same with Bostick, behind Rudolph, Rhett Ellison,Chase Ford and Ryan Otten. Charles Johnson was drafted by GB but got hurt and the Browns, well, anyway he ended up in Minnesota because Turner liked him in Cleveland, not because any GB ties. I don’t even care about Packers fans talking about it, they love them some vikings stories regardless of what it’s about so I salute them for all the hard work of getting the Vikings suck comments on all stories. to a job…….done

  32. tokyofilthblaster says:
    Mar 19, 2015 5:45 PM
    On a completely unrelated note, what are some of the telltale signs that your favorite team obsesses over how they might one day beat the mighty 13 time World Champion Green Bay Packers?
    —————————————————————-
    The fact that these supposed 13 time champions comprise 2/3 of the comments on all Vikings threads.

    Yes, it appears MN is REALLY concerned with GB, since all of GB’s trailer trash is commenting on an inconsequential pick-up.

  33. I wish Speilman would just not sign any more former Packers. We deserve the crap from GB trolls on this one lol.

  34. does little Ricky have any brains or kahonas that he can’t draft or develop himself,

  35. I could never figure out that although there are a few exceptions, ex-Packers always seem to go to MN, not Detroit or Chicago.

  36. Stop the insults and I mean both team’s “fans”. As a Packer fan, I’m happy Dujuan has found a job, where ever it takes him. He deserves it- was never a problem in GB.

  37. McFatty makes some bone – headed moves, but perhaps the Packers offense keeps rolling because the offense hasn’t changed in 25 years. McFatty seems to come up with good offensive plans – until the playoffs LOL. Harris is nothing more than a training camp body.

  38. jrmbadger says:

    Yet, every year, the Packers are in the playoffs and the Vikings are not.
    *****************************************

    Of course you are refusing to accept the truth, as usual.

    Since 1969 the Vikings have made the playoffs 27 times at the end of a full regulation season.

    During that same period of time, the Packers have only made the playoffs 18 times at the end of a full regulation season.

    Why since 1968? Well the Packers went from 1921 – 1928 without winning anything but a regular season game. It’s only fair to give the Vikings a few years after joining the NFL before starting to compare playoff appearances.

    For a team that whose fans live in the past of the Packers “championships” over the little sisters of the poor back in the 20’s, 30’s and the 40’s – it funny how the same fans forget how bad their team really has been in the last 47 years.

  39. I’d say the non Vikings fans that post neg. messages
    on Minnesota stories only do so because they see the team Minnesota is building and are more than just a little bit concerned .

  40. .539 is about .500 where I am from…and it’s a what have u done lately league they are 31-48-1 since 2010 rocking the .3875% Winning more Than 8 games game more than once in that time span.

    Enjoy thumping your chest about that winning percentage while you can… it will be gone before too long. I totally understand where you are coming from though….if I was a Viking fan I would try to pretend the last 5 seasons didn’t happen either.

  41. I liked Dujuan Harris I thought he looked like a mini Eddie Lacy out there. That being said……Vikings and Bears will battle for 3rd place in the division. Again.

  42. I was surprised Dujuan didn’t get many attempts last season. He is a classic elusive change of pace scat back.

  43. @gtodriver

    My post was referencing TED THOMPSON and his success with his draft and develop philosophy. I didn’t know Ted was the Packers GM since ’69.

    But if you really insist. Green Bay: 13. Minny:0

  44. He more than likely won’t last through training camp, and probably will be cut as soon as AP is cleared to play in 2015, AS A VIKING.

  45. I remember when we had no running backs. Viking trolls rubbed it in all the time. Now we’re giving away running backs and they’re taking them.

  46. mediasloppy says:
    Mar 19, 2015 5:12 PM
    This is just a case of Minnesota nice. It’s actually a detox program all people should go through after spending too much time in Green Bay. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————- actually Minnesota is more like the packers minor league team. they send down talent when it needs more work!! good luck to harris. he showed potential, he just didn’t seem to get over his injury.

  47. This is actually a Green Bay Packers article, too. If you notice, they’re tagged at the bottom of the entry.

    It’s ok, I know most Minnesotans cannot read, or function in public.

    Tis why you’re all in your parents’ basements right now, trying to decipher what we’re saying. I know it has to be hard. Not only do we have the better team, we have the better fans.

    By far.

  48. ldbeachtecorion61 says:
    Mar 19, 2015 6:28 PM
    I’d say the non Vikings fans that post neg. messages
    on Minnesota stories only do so because they see the team Minnesota is building and are more than just a little bit concerned . —————————————————————————————————————————————————————- or…. they are so busy laughing at the vikings because their g.m. can’t draft draft talent! i mean if i were a vikings fan, i would be pissed if my team kept signing my hated rivals players. its one thing to sign a player once and a while but the vikings seem to hold the record!!! lmao i can see the vikings are winning the offseason again!!!

  49. gtodriver says:

    Of course you are refusing to accept the truth, as usual.

    Since 1969 the Vikings have made the playoffs 27 times at the end of a full regulation season.

    During that same period of time, the Packers have only made the playoffs 18 times at the end of a full regulation season.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………..

    Well, I guess you got us-if you really want to use playoff appearances for setting the bar, that is. Most teams, including the Packers, use a different measuring stick. But you go on using the “we made the playoffs more times than you” zinger, because man, that sure hurts.

  50. ldbeachtecorion61 says:
    Mar 19, 2015 6:28 PM
    I’d say the non Vikings fans that post neg. messages
    on Minnesota stories only do so because they see the team Minnesota is building and are more than just a little bit concerned .

    …………………………………………………………………………………………..

    Been building it for over 50 years-still nothing to show for it.

  51. rosstuckershair says:
    Mar 19, 2015 5:31 PM

    Ted does nothing in free agency every year. He is a draft and develop GM. Yet, every year, the Packers are in the playoffs and the Vikings are not.

    While this may seem counter-intuitive, in fact, statistically, most free agent signings are a bust and a waste of money. Look no further than Greg Jennings…..

    BS a 6-10 team without Aaron Rodgers. He and Muffin would have been gone several years ago without him
    ==================================
    Probably true. Take a look at teams that have lost their elite QB’s.

    Elway final season 14-2 and SB victory
    Following year 6-10

    Warner final season 10-6
    Following year 5-11

    Manning prior to injury 10-6
    Following year 2-14

    Steve Young 12-4
    Following year 4-12

    Yep. Quarterbacks are important.

  52. packerenglishmajor says:
    Mar 19, 2015 5:53 PM
    It a little crazy how Packer trolls vacillate.

    In the last Viking article (they can’t get enough Viking news) they were saying no free agents want to go to MN.

    Yet every year there seems to be a mass exodus to purpler pastures to the west.

    Fact is, according to Pro Football Focus Green Bay is among the five least appealing venues for free agents.
    ________

    I am fan of the NFL especially the NFC North so you’re right I can’t get enough news regarding those teams. You might be on to something though…it is unappealing…

    Its pretty easy to be unappealing for FA’s when the GM doesn’t bother calling any of them up and bringing them in for visits.

    Would you a workplace unappealing knowing they didn’t want you ?

  53. I think DuJuan was a good RB with speed but just didn’t have a real spot with the Packers due to Lacy and Starks. He will have a nice little career with the Vikings if they give him a chance to get on the field.

  54. Quick, who can name a team who went through a 25 year, a consecutive 25 run where they only won their division ONE time? This same team only made the playoffs TWICE in that span…only then because of a 9 game shortened season.
    Anyone…anyone?
    Who was this team that was the laughing stock of the league for a 1/4 century? Epic sucktitude! The suck of all suckiness! Is there a run by any team that can match this putrid display of football? Not yet, maybe someday…but not yet! Look it up….

  55. This really IS embarrassing and has gotten out of control. I think the commissioner’s office should look into this strange obsession the Vikings have with Green Bay’s castoffs.

  56. Loving the pain that the Vikings fans have to go through during each offseason.

    ))))))))))))))))))

    Can’t be anywhere near the pain of queen bay fans are dealing with after their epic collapse in the NFC Championship game.

  57. Rick Speilman clearly has no conscience..
    Really Rick, have a little self dignity.
    Can you really not farm any talent on your own must we resort to picking up one Packer after another. We are embarrassed for you and your entire organization. I’m surprised that your owners don’t tell you to cool it…. show us you know what you’re doing.

  58. Good signing…this kids gonna turn some heads. Its amazing how the vikes keep picking up our players at the same time their fans are telling us that our team has no talent. Fans of a team with 16 wins combined in the last three seasons……telling us that we have no talent. Irony.

  59. All ribbing aside, DuJuan Harris is a good RB. Glad he found work, not thrilled its with the Vikings but a mans gotta eat. Good luck DuJuan except against the Pack.

  60. The Vikings are trying to assemble a team that can defeat Green Bay’s first stringers, using nothing more than Green Bay’s third stringers

  61. Stop with the old packer player crap. He is a training camp player to fill up a spot. He’ll be on practice squad or cut before the season starts

  62. “BS a 6-10 team without Aaron Rodgers. He and Muffin would have been gone several years ago without him”
    —————————

    Just about every team would be 6-10 or worse if they suddenly lost their QB and didn’t plan ahead. But Green Bay isn’t in that situation because they do plan ahead. They planned ahead for Favre’s retirement by drafting Rodgers.

    Thompson and McCarthy are in the playoffs every year for good reason. They are one of the league’s best GM/Head Coach duos in the NFL for good reason. They know how to draft players, they know how to develop players, and they know how to manage their salary cap.

    The teams that don’t know how to do these things typically aren’t in the playoffs every year and desperately scramble to pick up other team’s free agents year after year.

    Even wheelin’ and dealin’ Chip Kelly recently admitted that draft and develop is the best method of team building and how you win games in this league.

    For more info Google:
    “Chip Kelly: Draft, Not Free Agency, is the Way to Build”

  63. frank booth says:

    Probably true. Take a look at teams that have lost their elite QB’s.

    Elway final season 14-2 and SB victory
    Following year 6-10

    Warner final season 10-6
    Following year 5-11

    Manning prior to injury 10-6
    Following year 2-14

    Steve Young 12-4
    Following year 4-12

    Yep. Quarterbacks are important.
    ********************************

    You forgot the one that hits closest to home….

    In 2008, TT trades Brett Favre after a 13 – 3 season and making it to the NFC Championship game.

    Following year some bum named Aaron Rodgers takes the Packers to a 6 – 10 record in his 4th season in the NFL.

    Meanwhile Favre wins more games in 2008 and 2009 than does Rodgers.

  64. ALL TEAMS are more likely to sign player from teams in their own division. They see those players the most. They study those teams the most. They know those player the best. It just makes sense to give those guys a shot. It happens all over the league, not just the Vikings and packers. But every time the Vikings sign someone from the packers, people seem to get in an uproar and use words like “cast-offs” and “leftover” in connotative fashion towards those players and the Vikings. It’s not that special or that big of a deal. You just don’t hear much about players going from rival to rival in divisions you doing follow as closely as the NFC North.

  65. Ah yes Vikings fans once again aren’t you cute.

    Comments that say that the Packers would be nothing without Rodgers yet your team passed on him. We have a franchise QB something you last had with ummm Tarkenton?

    You have more playoff appearances. Sure but how many championships do you have? I will wait… oh thats right NONE

    As for those playoff appearances. The Vikings have 7 straight wild card losses, last playoff win was January 2008, and last appeared in the Super Bowl in it was Super Bowl IV in January 1977. 1977 think about that for a second. Carter was president, disco was popular, and people wore bellbottoms, Star Wars was first released, and the first Apple II goes on sale.

  66. I like Harris, he’s a decent RB. Much like Charles Johnson (an Ex Packer too), he will join the Vikings and immediately become the top positional player on the squad (assuming the Child Abuser doesn’t return in 2016)

    But what does that really say about the talent level of the Vikings when ex Packers that can’t even crack the starting line up or find even spot roles on the team automatically become the top player for the Vikings. I don’t think you need to look beyond the 2 wins per year that the Packers gain at the Viking’s expense to answer that one.

  67. They came after Starks last year and now Harris. How does Spieladope have a job when he cannot draft. Free agency is nothing but a make up for poor drafting and he cannot even do that well.

    The minnesota vikings the gift that just keeps on giving.
    Bwahahahaha!

  68. “Since 1969 the Vikings have made the playoffs 27 times at the end of a full regulation season. During that same period of time, the Packers have only made the playoffs 18 times at the end of a full regulation season.”

    Great. The Vikings have failed in the postseason more often than the Packers. There, I said it.

    Now are you happy?

  69. Ted Thompson deserves a pay raise for god’s sakes. He’s signing players for both the Packers AND the Vikings.
    And the “Beat Goes On”.

  70. gtodriver says:
    Mar 20, 2015 7:05 AM

    frank booth says:

    Probably true. Take a look at teams that have lost their elite QB’s.

    Elway final season 14-2 and SB victory
    Following year 6-10

    Warner final season 10-6
    Following year 5-11

    Manning prior to injury 10-6
    Following year 2-14

    Steve Young 12-4
    Following year 4-12

    Yep. Quarterbacks are important.
    ********************************

    You forgot the one that hits closest to home….

    In 2008, TT trades Brett Favre after a 13 – 3 season and making it to the NFC Championship game.

    Following year some bum named Aaron Rodgers takes the Packers to a 6 – 10 record in his 4th season in the NFL.

    Meanwhile Favre wins more games in 2008 and 2009 than does Rodgers.
    ==================================
    And then throws a critical pick in the 2009 NFC Championship Game, as the Vikings once more fail.

    Meanwhile, Rodgers becomes one of the best QB’s in the league, leading the Packers to a Super Bowl Victory, their fourth Super Bowl and 7th championship since 1961, when the Vikings became a franchise. Of course, in this time frame, the Vikings play in more playoff games, with nothing to show for it. except for epic Super Bowl failures for a team stacked with Hall of Famers.

    Rodgers feasts upon the Vikings, with a 10-4 career record against them. Disappointed Vikings’ fans try to find every way to pick apart Rodgers, making themselves look foolish in the process.

  71. gtodriver says:

    Of course you are refusing to accept the truth, as usual.

    Since 1969 the Vikings have made the playoffs 27 times at the end of a full regulation season.

    During that same period of time, the Packers have only made the playoffs 18 times at the end of a full regulation season.

    ____________

    Ok I’ll bite.

    What a cherry picked piece of crap.

    How convenient to leave out the 60’s for the packers because you guys are an expansion. I think we should leave the 70’s out as well because Vince Lombardi died. (eye roll)

    Let’s just go back to when the vikings were formed, 1961 was the first official season.

    Vikings 27 playoff appearances

    Packers 24 playoff appearances

    Now what really matters since 1961,

    Vikings 4 super bowl losses

    Packers 4 super bowl wins

    I will concede that you guys definitely are the bigger choker based on this information.

  72. “In 2008, TT trades Brett Favre after a 13 – 3 season and making it to the NFC Championship game.
    Following year some bum named Aaron Rodgers takes the Packers to a 6 – 10 record in his 4th season in the NFL.”
    ———————————–

    Rodgers was outstanding that season; putting up better numbers than Favre did in both ’07 and ’08. It definitely wasn’t Rodgers that was bad; it was a massive amount of injuries to the defensive side of the ball which were to blame.

  73. gtodriver says:
    Mar 20, 2015 7:05 AM
    You forgot the one that hits closest to home….

    In 2008, TT trades Brett Favre after a 13 – 3 season and making it to the NFC Championship game.

    Following year some bum named Aaron Rodgers takes the Packers to a 6 – 10 record in his 4th season in the NFL.

    Meanwhile Favre wins more games in 2008 and 2009 than does Rodgers.
    _____________

    Yeah there are always growing pains for QBs. No matter how great they are… the Packers were 6-10 but did you that Rodgers gave the lead the offense to a go-head or game tying score like at least 7 games that season… Sometimes you need to take 1 step back to take 2 or 3 forward.

    Look at the Vikings who since Favre left have put the Reigns in McNabb… Ponders.. Cassel… and now Bridgewaters hands

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