The Seattle Seahawks finally figured out a permanent use for Percy Harvin on Friday, trading him to the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional draft pick — reportedly a second or fourth rounder. That haul (if it can be called such) is far less than what the Seahawks gave up for Harvin when they acquired him from the Minnesota Vikings in 2013. The Seahawks surrendered three draft picks — a 1st and 7th rounder in 2013, and a 3rd rounder in 2014 — to land the oft-injured speedster, and he promptly sat out all but one regular season game last year. He returned for the divisional round game against the New Orleans Saints and was promptly knocked out of that affair, causing him to miss the NFC Championship Game. Aside from his injuries, Harvin’s tenure in Seattle will be remembered mostly (if not only) for his kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half of the Super Bowl.
Many people will point to that one play — perhaps partly in jest — as justification for acquiring Harvin, but the truth is, other than that, he really didn’t do much for them. The Super Bowl (which would have been a romp regardless of Harvin’s presence) return was all teams needed to know not to kick to him anymore, and Darrell Bevel’s unimaginative play calling, combined with a mediocre wide receiver corp that has trouble with downfield blocking, had rendered Harvin a relative non-factor. The one game he did get it going was the infamous Monday night game against the Redskins, in which Harvin had three touchdowns called back — twice due to penalties by offensive linemen, and once for his own infraction.
Meanwhile, the rumor mill is already spinning about the reasons why the Seahawks parted ways so suddenly and so soon, and the common thread seems to be his attitude:
The Seahawks moved Percy Harvin before he poisoned the locker room. Without doubt.
— Dave Softy Mahler (@Softykjr) October 17, 2014
in regards to the 4th quarter vs Dallas, either A-Percy didn’t want to go in or B-They didn’t want him in. Either way, unacceptable. — Dave Softy Mahler (@Softykjr) October 17, 2014
Covered Percy in college. Transcendent talent. Was also a giant pain in the butt for coaches. Sounds like Seattle tired of his act, too
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 17, 2014
According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the Seahawks had been quietly shopping Harvin:
Very quietly. But yes. RT @nflnetwork: “Seattle was in the market for trading Percy Harvin for several weeks.” –@Rapsheet — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 17, 2014
Harvin’s now-former teammates also weighed in on the news:
Damn they got my nigga….
— Shawn Lynch (@MoneyLynch) October 17, 2014
This business is crazy… Hate to see my boy @Percy_Harvin go — Cliff Avril (@cliffavril) October 17, 2014
Shit crazy
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) October 17, 2014
Even Seattle’s finest Twitter account weighed in:
BREAKING: SPD receives tickets to @TheLionKing ,1/2 a Coney dog from @NYPDnews in blockbuster trade for @Percy_Harvin
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) October 17, 2014
