We usually get things rolling pretty early here on the NFC North blog, but this morning, news was already waiting when I powered up the old Commodore 64. To no one’s surprise, not even NFC West blogger Mike Sando, Minnesota receiver Percy Harvin has been named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Harvin received 41 of the 50 votes after setting a Vikings record with 2,081 all-purpose yards in 15 games this season. That total left him with one of the best all-round rookie seasons in NFL history. (Oakland’s Tim Brown set the all-time record for all-purpose yards by a rookie with 2,317 in 1988.) Harvin was also quarterback Brett Favre’s favorite target on third down and ranked No. 7 among all NFL players in that category, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Harvin was a controversial draft pick after he tested positive for marijuana use at the February scouting combine. But as it turned out, the biggest problem he encountered was an intensification of migraine headaches that has plagued him for much of his life.
Migraines caused him to miss the Vikings’ rookie minicamp, the NFL’s rookie symposium and a game against Cincinnati last month.
Continuing around the NFC North:
The company pursuing NFL teams for the Los Angeles area won’t recruit any franchise, including the Vikings, while they are actively pursuing a local stadium deal. More on this later, but here is the Associated Press story.
Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times on Chicago’s hour-long news conference Tuesday: “The effort at honesty led to some bizarrely contradictory moments. There was an insistence that the status quo wasn't good enough even as the three people who define that term all remained safely employed.”
Rick Morrissey’s take in the Sun-Times: “The McCaskey family has handed power to people who don't know what they're doing. Worse, ownership doesn't seem to know what it would do without these same incompetent.”
David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune: “This wasn't a housecleaning at Halas Hall. This was light dusting.”
Linebacker Clay Matthews was one of Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson’s most inspired draft picks, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene said Matthews has “a set of skills that I didn’t have” as a player. Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee has more.
Packers right guard Josh Sitton has turned into a solid starter, writes Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Detroit’s rookie class was a bright spot this season, notes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.
Here’s a link to the blog of Lions quarterback Drew Stanton, who insists he wants to remain in Detroit next season.