Code: [U]Base Bonus Cap Hit[/U] 2012 915,000 1,568,800 2,483,800 2013 1,550,000 440,000 1,990,000 http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/percy-harvin/
I'd be shocked if he gets traded, but yes, no reason not to look into it. He'd be a perfect compliment to AJ.
This, not sure I'd offer more than a 5th honestly. I'm also not sure he'd be happy with the role as I would envision it either. He'd be our primary returner and slot receiver only.
Why? He played kick returner, slot and outside receiver in Minnesota and put up great stats last year. He's a much better player and receiver than Walter. Would it be nice if he had Walter's height? Sure, but he doesn't and is still a lot better, at any position.
Kick the tires.. I like the guy, but don't know if he's a fit for what Kubiak wants from his WRs. Harvin has a lot of promise, but has been unreliable week to week.
Just because he wants to be traded doesn't mean Minny's going to get rid of him. WRs ask for trades pretty frequently (Ocho-Cinco, Vincent Jackson, etc.) and rarely do they actually happen. Outside of Peterson (who is coming off injury), he is their best offensive player.
If it would work for just Walter, then I would be fine with it. Generally, NFL players tend to have signing bonuses that are prorated throughout the life of a contract. Cutting them generally accelerates the remaining amount prorated to future years on the current year (and maybe split with the next). My NFL CBA knowledge is really out of date. Draft picks are the lifeblood of NFL teams. The Texans are in good position for the next few years. I see no need to improve our odds a little this year, but each year after that to be worsened. The Vikings are going to want a fair trade and I don't want to lose a high pick.
^^ I see, that's what I get for speaking out of turn on NFL cap and contracts. http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/houston-texans/kevin-walter/ If I look at the above it looks like Walter has $1 million of signing bonus allocated for the next 3 years, so is the implication that if he was cut, the immediate cap hit woudl be $3 million? Which is the same as his cap hit for 2012 if he isn't cut - his base salary of $2 million + bonus? So no cap savings? Meanwhile Harvin would have his base salary at a minimum count against the cap, and potentially his bonus portion as well? Or would Minnesota have the bonus portion count against their cap, as they were the ones who paid the bonus? Well, not sure how it works, but just noting that Harvin is a much better player than Walter, has the versatility to play all receiver positions, and would definitively upgrade the team at what has become one of its weaker spots - especially when you factor in injuries, but even when healthy.
No more than a 3rd, 4th or even 5th?! Overvalue your own players much Texans' fans? Harvin is a PROVEN player in the league. Arguably the most versatile offensive player in the league at that. Not only is he a stud receiver but he returns kicks and punts and he even has success running/cataching out of the backfield. Even with the slight baggage and migraine issue I'd give up a 2nd rounder for him and not thing twice. He just turned 24, comes dirt cheap and he improves the Special teams 10x fold and he's the perfect compliment to AJ and another weapon for Schaub. The dude was a 1st round pick just 3 drafts ago and he's lived up to that thus far.
^^ valid points. Add Harvin, have Schaub stay healthy, hope the defense matches last year's performance in spite of (because of?) the changes, and this is a high probability SuperBowl squad. For a city that hasn't had a team make a conference finals much less SuperBowl, seems like a player and time to overpay, if you can. Caveat: Schaub's health.
He might be unhappy with his current contract and may want a substantial raise. If that's the reason he wants to get traded, that would be an issue here.
It's not really that simple. IIRC, if we cut Walter he still counts against our cap (3MM). Harvin is threatening to hold out for a new contract, I assume. So, it's not like he's going to come here and just be cool without getting an extension, and a fairly beefy one at that (more than KW is scheduled to make, I assure you). Factor in what little depth/experience we have at WR right now, and KW isn't going to get the boot for most of anything. Now, let's say we trade for Harvin and manage to keep him happy the whole year (and he performs admirably, returning kicks and being our 3rd receiver) without a new deal. At the end of this season, we absolutely cut KW and make Harvin the #2 with a handsome pay raise. The chances of this would be increased/decreased based on how the rookies perform, as well. I'm not saying it isn't possible, but people need to cool it with the KW hate. He's going to be here this year whether we like it or not (next year, however, I suspect he's a goner). Does cutting a battlefighter that just took a pay cut and trading for a guy (not known to battlefight) due a big pay raise strike you as something Smithiak would normally do?
^ I noted they could cut someone else. The big picture point is that Harvin is a great player who if available makes the team much better at, as you note, a position of need. Issues about him holding out are valid. But from what I've read this morning he is expressly not doing that - not holding out. He is voicing displeasure. Clearly he'll want to get paid, but it also appears that he is dissatisfied because his team sucks with very little light at the end of the tunnel. Can't blame him for wanting to win.
The 1 million would count now, but the 2 million could be shifted if the Texans want to next season's cap I think because he would be a post June 1st cut. So in 2013, the Texans wouldn't have Harvin, wouldn't have Walter, would be short a high draft pick, and effectively have $2 million dollars in less cap space than other teams. Brown and Schaub are about to be free agents so I think it might be prudent not to have 2 million dollars of dead money in 2013 for a one year rental. Harvin is a great player. I don't think the Texans would have to pay his bonus.
Agree, I don't blame him either. If he's willing to play out the year without a deal, that makes it all the better. I'd do it for a 3rd, hope he performs well, cut KW at the end of the year to make room to give him his new deal. That would be a dream scenario. Of course, it all depends on how much battlefight Harvin has in him and how little battlefight the rookies/KW have in them. It would be a gamble, but it could seriously pay off. Don't LOL at us, LOL at Kubiak, because that is probably what he would be in Kubiak's system until he gains his trust.
Are you Kevin's cousin or something? Harvin the #3 behind Walters??? That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. And what the heck is a "battlefighter"? Is that someone who is loyal to the team and a glue guy with no stats? Sounds like the Shane Battier of WR's. Not to mention he's about to be 31 before the season starts. In 3 seasons Harvin has nearly accomplished more than Walter's has in his 9 year career. Texan fans always want that perfect WR to line up opposite of AJ. It doesn't get much better than Harvin. Make Harvin the #2 and bump Walter to #3 where he belongs and the Texans might get somehwere.
Just because you think Harvin would be the 3rd receiver doesn't mean Kubiak will. Even Kubiak isn't that dumb.