<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Harris hopes for fresh startLinebacker glad to be playing for new coaching staff after seeing limited playing time last seasonBY SEAN JENSENPioneer PressMANKATO, Minn. A year ago, upon arriving at Vikings training camp, linebacker Napoleon Harris did what came naturally to him. He played defense.Not only on the Minnesota State Mankato practice fields, but also in front of the players' dormitory, where reporters peppered him with questions about being traded for the Vikings' signature player, receiver Randy Moss.Then, during the season, Harris kept his defensive posture, privately seething that his talents were underused and underappreciated. In the midst of starting a career-low three games, including being inactive for a December game in Detroit, Harris declined nearly every interview request from reporters and limited his interaction within the club."It was a very frustrating year, knowing that you can play and do some things, and you weren't really given an opportunity," Harris said Tuesday."I made some mistakes early on, and I admit to that. But I don't think it was justified where I was not even playing at all."Harris did not get a reprieve off the field either in 2005, with a cousin, an aunt and one of his best friends dying."Last year was definitely a tough year for me," Harris said. "The roughest year in my life."But January 2006 provided immediate encouragement, when Brad Childress replaced Mike Tice as the Vikings' head coach. Then, the club hired Mike Tomlin, a young and candid coach, to run the defense, and Fred Pagac, a blunt veteran, to oversee the linebackers. The latter moved especially pleased Harris, because his two most productive NFL seasons with the Oakland Raiders were under Pagac.In June, Harris got married.Now, in the early days of training camp, Harris' countenance is drastically different from a year ago. He smiles more and is more vocal in practices and in meetings."I'm very impressed with what Napo has done since last year," Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson said. "He came in with a positive attitude, stepped right in, and took on a way bigger leadership role than last year."He definitely came out with something to prove, with the way everybody was talking about him at the end last season. He's coming out and letting people know he is for real. He embraced the fresh start."So much, in fact, that Harris switched gears: He was proactive in arranging this interview, and he answered every question posed to him.For instance, despite comments suggesting otherwise from Tice last season, Harris said he wasn't hampered by knee injuries that slowed him in 2004."I think that was more of an excuse, to do the things that happened last year," Harris said. "I definitely feel I was healthy."Harris also said coaches last season favored other players with whom they were more familiar, which cornerback Antoine Winfield reiterated. For example, middle linebacker Sam Cowart and strong-side linebacker Keith Newman both played for defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell in Buffalo."(Harris) didn't really have a chance last year," said Winfield, who also played in Buffalo with Cottrell, Cowart and Newman. "He just didn't get as many reps. Sam was Ted's guy."What frustrated Harris even more was what he said was a lack of honesty from coaches last season.Asked what he likes about the new coaching staff, Harris immediately said, "They shoot from the hip."If they tell you something, that's the way it's going to be. I couldn't say that in the past. They (the 2005 staff) tell you something, then 10 minutes later, it's different. Coach Tomlin, coach Childress and coach Pagac, if they tell you something, you can believe it. You have a lot of trust for these guys, and it's easier to play for a coach that you can trust, because you know he has got your back, and you're willing to go out and sacrifice your body for these guys."Although his feelings toward last season's coaching staff are clear, Harris said he didn't vent his frustrations because of respect for his teammates."You see different situations where guys become distractions on their team," Harris said. "But I didn't want to let my teammates down, because it wasn't any of their faults. That's why I worked so hard in the offseason, so I could show them (my teammates) that, 'Hey, I'm here for you guys.' "And during his rough patches last year, Harris relied on the counsel of relatives, including an uncle who reminded him, "The cream always rises to the top.""I felt if I got another opportunity, I'd come out and prove myself," Harris said.In training camp, Harris is competing for the middle linebacker spot with Dontarrious Thomas, and Henderson also could get some looks there.Despite the stiff competition, Harris and Henderson said the unit gets along and constantly pushes one another."We have a great bunch of guys playing linebacker, and the competitiveness that we play with is inspiring," Harris said. "We keep tabs on guys with production, amongst ourselves."Harris is mature enough to handle disappointment. He said Pagac wouldn't treat him like a "poster child" just because they know each other."If a guy beats me out and performs at a higher level than me, so be it," Harris said. "I'm willing to accept that. I just want a fair chance."Besides, Harris is at a crossroad in his career. He is in the final year of his original rookie contract, which pays him $1.158 million this season."This is the last year of my contract, so I'm looking forward to playing big," Harris said.Sean Jensen can be reached at sjensen @ pioneerpress.com.</div>http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/15175802.htm<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Middle linebacker Harris puts season to forget behind himwww.startribune.com/51...89512.htmlJudd Zulgad, Star TribuneMANKATO - The speed with which Napoleon Harris answered the question provided insight into just how miserable of an experience last season was for him."It was probably the worst and the toughest year for any sport [I've played] at any level," he says without hesitation. "Anything I've ever done. High school, college, recreational, anything."A slight smile crosses Harris' face and he laughs one of those, "Even I can't believe it was that bad," laughs. But for Harris on and off the field, there was nothing funny about 2005 while it was happening.Asked to play an unfamiliar linebacker position and then benched after starting three of the first four games, Harris not only carried the burden of having been acquired from Oakland in the Randy Moss trade but also felt he never had the support of the coaching staff.Away from the field, it was even worse. Harris arrived at training camp a day after attending his aunt's funeral. Then about halfway through the season, Harris' best friend died of a heart attack at the age of 32."He was supposed to drive up to a game and then I get a call saying, 'He's just passed,' " Harris said. "I was like, 'What?' He wasn't in bad shape. It's just one of those things you really can't explain."After getting married this offseason, it's no wonder Harris is looking at the 2006 season as a fresh start. And that very well might be the case.Harris has been working with the first team at middle linebacker in the Vikings' new Tampa-2 defense during the first two days of training camp. It's a spot Harris thought he would play in 2005. Shortly after being acquired from Oakland, Harris said he was told by former coach Mike Tice he would play in the middle. But soon thereafter veteran Sam Cowart was acquired and the plan changed.Who is going to play middle linebacker for the Vikings has been one of the key offseason questions. Harris, the starting middle linebacker for the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, and Dontarrious Thomas are expected to compete for the job. E.J. Henderson possibly could move over from the weak side if needed. But right now, Harris is playing between Henderson and newcomer Ben Leber."Physically [Harris] really looks good," coach Brad Childress said after the opening practice on the first day of two-a-days. "I saw him show up a couple times today and that's a physical presence. That's a big man now. He's got his mind right. Physically, medically he's in good shape."The word around Winter Park for much of last season was that a knee injury Harris suffered in 2004 was still bothering him."They said that but I think that was more of an excuse to really not let me play," said Harris, who is listed at 6-2, 255 pounds. "There was nothing wrong with my knee. It was more, I didn't like what was going on scheme-wise and what I was asked to do. And when I did do well it was overlooked."Harris, 27, appreciates the support from Childress and new defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, saying, "I feel like the coaches are definitely showing more faith in me by allowing me to even have an opportunity."He also admits if Tice was still around, he probably would be somewhere else."I couldn't see myself going through what I went through last year, personally," said Harris, who had only 20 tackles in 15 games. "I wouldn't want to be here."Among the things in Harris' favor, is that the Moss trade is no longer fresh in the minds of fans. Being part of the deal for the standout receiver opened Harris up to frequent criticism and being able to tune it out, in Harris' words, is "easier said than done.""The type of job we are in, every time when I go to work my performance is in the paper, where everyone else's is not," he said. "I took a lot of criticism. But it's like a burden off my shoulders just to get a fresh start and being able to prove that I can play football and be a successful linebacker in this league. ... At least I know now I have a chance to succeed."</div>
<span style="color:#6600CC">2nd player in as many days to take a shot at the previous regime. I expect good things from Napolean Dynamite this year. I don't believe he's anywhere close to being as bad as he was last year.</span>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FSUViking @ Aug 2 2006, 06:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><span style="color:#6600CC">2nd player in as many days to take a shot at the previous regime. I expect good things from Napolean Dynamite this year. I don't believe he's anywhere close to being as bad as he was last year.</span></div>Yeah I do too. I think he could make a great MLB in our system this year. Harris, Henderson/ Leber and Greenway sounds like a decent lineup to me.
