Oh, DuJuan Harris … Minnesota Vikings? Really

Harris: A running back who just didn’t have staying power

Our enthusiasm and interest into how DuJuan Harris might fare with the team in 2014 jumped again about this time last year.

He was being looked to as a possible third down option – a running back who might help the passing game and give the Packers a weapon much like Darren Sproles with the Eagles.

However, things began to go south for Harris early in training camp last year. He was clearly the odd man out in the offensive backfield, but the Packers didn’t want to part ways with him. Instead, they stuck him on kickoffs in hopes he could make a difference with the special teams.

He stayed in that role through the first half of the season, but McCarthy tired of his ineffectiveness and over the course of the final month of the season and into the playoffs, Harris was inactive for games.

The writing for his release was on the wall long ago and became reality a couple of weeks ago when the Packers cut ties with him.

Now the news breaks today that he joins that scrap heap of former Packers players who have taken a trip through Minnesota – guys like Darren Sharper, Ryan Longwell, Brett Favre, Desmond Bishop and most recently Brandon Bostick – among others.

DuJuan Harris. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

What is it with the Vikings picking up all these Packers castoffs? Are there no other free agents out there who could be of interest to Minnesota officials?

Not only that, but the Vikings already have a guy by the name of Adrian Peterson, as well as the two guys who held down the fort last year: Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata.

How will Harris fit in with his new team? Probably not very well.

But we certainly hope that Harris does well for himself and can be productive with Minnesota … except for when they play the Green Bay Packers.

It’s good to see former Packers players land on their feet – but it surely is getting tiresome watching as they land in Minnesota.