Harvin gives Vikings right answers

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress had plenty of questions for Percy Harvin when he visited the receiver in Florida only three days before the NFL draft.

The speedy Gators star must have had all the right answers.

The Vikings selected the big-play threat with the 22nd overall draft choice on Saturday after speaking with Harvin, his family and Gators coaches about a failed drug test at the NFL combine and concerns about his durability.

“I think he’s a guy that’s made a mistake. We’ve all made mistakes,” Childress said. “The big thing is that you look at him in the eye and you recognize it for what it is. You admit to it.

“And then I think (it’s about) how you deal with adversity as you go forward,” he added. “Do you run and bury it? Or do you fix it? That’s part of growing up.”

The 5-foot-11 Harvin split time between running back and receiver in three seasons at Florida. He racked up nearly 3,800 total yards, using his versatility to help the Gators to two national titles.

Harvin battled a few foot injuries in college, but the Vikings say he is healthy and will pair with Adrian Peterson to give them two dynamic threats with noses for the end zone.

Harvin scored 17 touchdowns last season and had 14 touches for 170 yards and a score in Florida’s 24-14 win over Oklahoma in the national title game.

“When we evaluated him just on football between the lines, he was definitely a top-10 pick,” Vikings vice president for player personnel Rick Spielman said.

Spielman raved about Harvin’s ability and insisted the team was satisfied with his character after several visits with the 184-pound native of Virginia Beach, Va., who skipped his final season of eligibility at Florida. Spielman and receivers coach George Stewart, who once worked with Terrell Owens with the San Francisco 49ers, talked to Harvin after his workout for scouts on campus.

Childress then made the personal visit to Florida and surprised Harvin by asking him to drive him to his family’s house near Jacksonville so the coach could get a better idea about the person behind the player.

“Obviously you want to do the right thing and you want to make sure you’re bringing the right people in here,” Childress said. “Can he fit? Can he coexist? Can he be a good teammate. All those kind of things.”

Harvin knew he had some explaining to do, about the drug test, his injury history and a history of altercations in high school.

“With these coaches, I opened up to them and they opened up to me,” Harvin said. “So when it got to those subjects, the only thing I could do was tell them the truth, be up front, and let them judge me from there. We had a great respect for each other and obviously them picking me showed they believed in me. I’ve got their back and they got mine.”