The NFL is full of tough guys and macho men. Players compete despite having broken bones, sprained joints, and torn muscles. Regardless of the condition, coaches have expectations for players and that is for them to practice and play no matter what.
You can only imagine how frustrated Brad Childress and the Minnesota Vikings’ coaching staff was with superb rookie Percy Harvin last year. Harvin was one of their gamebreakers both on offensive and in special teams last season. Harvin also missed practice frequently and even had to sit out a game because of a chronic migraine condition that has plague him since he was 10 years old.
No doubt the coaches grew upset with Harvin because they expected him to work with the team but were let down on a regular basis. Additionally, compared to broken bones, migraines seem like a minor condition. Now, as if it weren’t already confirmed, we have come to find out that Harvin’s migraines are incredibly severe.
Harvin collapsed at Vikings practice on Thursday and was taken to the hospital. Before collapsing, Harvin had thrown up at one point. The speculation is that Harvin’s migraine was triggered by looking up at the bright sky to field a punt. Coach Brad Childress described Harvin as “trembling” on the ground after collapsing.
If there were any doubts about the legitimacy of Harvin’s migraine issue, this incident probably erases all of it. It’s probably fair to say that Harvin would take practicing over collapsing any day. For Minnesota, they’re probably even more sensitive to such an issue; it was nine years ago that lineman Korey Stringer died from heat stroke. They’ll handle this situation with great caution and care and prepare for another season of questions involving Harvin’s week-to-week status.
Sources:
Harvin collapses, taken away in ambulance [Star Tribune]
