Don’t write off Harris

By Krupka  |   Wednesday, June 21, 2006  |  Comments( 1 )

Minnesota Vikings
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Prior to the 2005 season, the Minnesota Vikings decided it was in their best interest to trade away their constant distraction, All-Pro receiver Randy Moss. The main return the Vikes received for Moss was the Raiders' first-round pick (No. 7 overall), which was used to select receiver Troy Williamson. Other than that, linebacker Napoleon Harris was shipped to Minnesota. With the fanfare Moss had, fans were left with lofty expectations for the acquired talent. After an unimpressive season in which he lost his starting position, fans have begun to sour on Harris. However, he should not be written off just yet.

Whenever a player joins a new city, he tries too hard to impress and perform, when he would be better off just going about his business as usual, playing, and not thinking too much. It's hard to tell what led to Harris' shortcomings last season, but it could have had something to do with being traded for a future Hall of Famer and putting too much pressure on himself. Learning a new defense and trying to fit in can always hinder one's performance, too.

In any event, there is no doubt that the former Northwestern University standout has the tools and ability to play at a high level in the NFL. In just his second season in the league (2003), Harris played well, demonstrating clearly that he has what it takes to turn his potential into results. He recorded 107 tackles and added two sacks as a member of the Silver and Black.

By no means should Harris be given a free pass for last season, and he isn't getting one. And obviously, he won't make excuses for his forgetful season. He carries himself with too much class. What many fans may not be aware of is his charitable endeavors and propensity to give back to the youth of America. Harris prides himself on helping communities, especially youngsters.

Harris has set up the Napoleon Harris Foundation, which addresses the health, education and social needs of children through its collegiate scholarship fund, educational nutrition program, mentoring program and reading club.

What more can you ask for in a human-being, especially in a day and age when people complain that there are no good guys and no role models in professional sports. For those in search of a hero, look no farther than Harris. He should be a role model to any young kid, as he carries himself with such dignity and understands exactly what the right thing to do is. In fact, more athletes should look to him as an example of how to deal with fame and fortune.

Being a great person is fantastic, but fans seem to only care about results on the field. With the chance to redeem himself, Harris has been working harder than ever before in his attempt to reclaim a starting job. If he can return to the type of play he displayed in 2003, the Vikings' faithful will soon be on his bandwagon.

Don't give up on Harris yet. Will he become a solid contributor to the Minnesota Vikings defense in 2006? I'm putting my money on yes.

Eric Krupka can be reached at ekrupka@realfootball365.com

Get more Napoleon Harris insights at Realfootball365.com
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