Report: Seahawks Were On Verge Of Axing Percy Harvin Before Jets Trade
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Seattle Seahawks were on the verge of releasing Percy Harvin before the Jets traded for the talented-but-troubled wide receiver Friday, league and team sources told ESPN.
Harvin was reportedly a malcontent who fought with players and coaches -- either verbally or physically -- in Seattle. He also refused to play late in the Seahawks' Week 6 loss to Dallas, despite being healthy, team sources told CBS Sports.
Despite the red flags, Jets general manager John Idzik dealt for Harvin. New York's offense has struggled, and the Jets have lost six straight since opening with a win over Oakland.
Idzik called Harvin a "dynamic player who has been productive on offense and special teams.''
The Seahawks had been reportedly shopping Harvin for weeks and had until Oct. 28 to move him before this season's trade deadline. One offer Seattle reportedly proposed was to deal Harvin to Denver in exchange for tight end Julius Thomas. The Broncos weren't interested.
The Jets will reportedly part with a conditional mid-round draft pick that will be anywhere from a fourth-round to a sixth-round selection.
The 26-year-old Harvin has played in only 43 career games since being a first-round pick (22nd overall) by Minnesota in 2009. He was traded to the Seahawks in 2013, appearing in just one regular-season game because of hip surgery. But he had two rushes for 45 yards and ran back the second-half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown in Seattle's 43-8 win over Denver in the Super Bowl.
This season, Harvin has 22 receptions for 133 yards, with 12 of those catches coming behind the line of scrimmage. He has only one catch on a ball thrown more than 10 yards, according to STATS. Harvin's average of 6 yards per catch is last among all wide receivers in the NFL averaging at least two receptions per game.
He also has 11 runs for 92 yards and a touchdown, and 12 kickoff returns for 283 yards.
With the Jets, Harvin figures to team with Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley as the main weapons in a so-far weak passing game with Geno Smith at quarterback.
The Jets released receiver David Nelson to make room for Harvin. Harvin and Nelson were teammates at the University of Florida.
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