Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin Notes: Buccaneers, Bengals, Browns

October 18th, 2014 at 3:09pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jets were not the only team reached out to by the Seahawks about Percy Harvin‘s availability leading up to this weekend’s trade. The Buccaneers, Browns, and Bengals were all contacted about the possibility of a deal, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). All three of those teams have various levels of need at the position, but what they do have in common is a chunk of cap space that Harvin could have fit into.

Here are some other notes concerning the Harvin trade:

Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan might be a player’s coach, but Harvin’s reputation will be tough to shake in a new city. He has had problems at every stop in his career, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk questions whether his tenure with the Jets will be any different. He surmises that the thinking in league circles is that the team will not bring him back at $10MM in 2015.
As record of Harvin’s many transgressions keeps growing, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com has compiled a list of some of his most egregious missteps.
Although Harvin may have been a problem in the locker room, there are still a section of players who are not happy to see him go. Marshawn Lynch is one of those players, writes Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, and his unhappiness might cause more problems in the locker room. Lynch reportedly almost did not get on the team bus after learning about the trade, reports Mehta (via Twitter).

Jets Acquire Percy Harvin

October 18th, 2014 at 11:50am CST by Luke Adams

11:50am: There have been a couple of clarifications on the deal. Ian Rapoport tweets that the draft pick is a conditional sixth-rounder that could turn into a fourth-round pick. ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini confirms (via Twitter) that there will be no renegotiations and the Jets will indeed pick up the remainder of Harvin’s contract.

Meanwhile, Seahawks general manager John Schneider released a statement:

“Although this was an extremely difficult decision, we are constantly evaluating our team and believe at this time, that this is in our best interest to move the team forward. We thank Percy for his efforts that contributed to a Super Bowl XLVIII victory and wish him well.”

11:05am: The Jets have officially announced the transaction. However, they did not release specifics about the traded draft pick.

“Percy is a versatile, dynamic player who has been productive on offense and special teams,” said general manager John Idzik. “We’re excited about adding him to the Jets.”

SATURDAY, 10:15am: Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets that the reported value of the conditional draft picks heading to Seattle are too high. He notes in a subsequent tweet that the pick won’t go as high as the second round.

FRIDAY, 6:12pm: The conditional pick is reported to be at least a fourth-round selection as high as a second-rounder depending on performance, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). Cimini credits his report to John Clayton of ESPN.

4:30pm: With 11 days to go until this year’s trade deadline, the Jets have moved aggressively to add an offensive playmaker to their roster. According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (Twitter link), the Jets and Seahawks have agreed to a trade that will send wideout Percy Harvin to New York in exchange for a conditional draft pick. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the pick is a mid-rounder.

While Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports indicates (via Twitter) that Seattle had been “nosing around” the trade market for Harvin a little, the move still comes as a huge surprise — it was only 19 months ago that the recently-acquired Harvin inked a huge long-term extension with the Seahawks.

Although Harvin proved in February’s Super Bowl that his game-breaking ability could be a huge asset for the Seahawks, he missed the majority of the 2013 season, and has been somewhat slowed by injuries again in 2014. Even when the 26-year-old has been healthy this year, the Seahawks have struggled to get him the ball. Through five games, Harvin recorded 22 receptions for just 133 yards and no touchdowns. He added 92 yards and a TD on the ground, and returned kicks for the team, but it had still been an uphill battle for offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as he tried to get the most out of the former Viking.

On the heels of a heartbreaking loss in New England, the timing of the move is curious for the 1-6 Jets. While the team may still have hope of salvaging this season, it’s extremely unlikely that Rex Ryan and company have a significant enough turnaround to challenge for a playoff berth. With Ryan and GM John Idzik fighting to keep their jobs, it’s easy to view the deal as a desperation move, though we’ll have to wait to hear exactly what the Jets gave up.

Adding Harvin to the roster, after signing Eric Decker in free agency this year. should help give Geno Smith every possible opportunity to prove he’s the answer for the team at quarterback. However, Harvin is on the books for a $10.5MM salary in 2015, so if his injury woes persist, it’s not clear if he’ll be a part of the team’s long-term plans. None of Harvin’s salary beyond this season is fully guaranteed, so the Jets’ remaining nine games could serve as an extended audition for the former first-round pick.

For the Seahawks, Doug Baldwin figures to take on the title of the No. 1 wideout in the offense by default. Receivers like Jermaine Kearse and Paul Richardson should see their roles expanded as well, and both players have big-play ability, even if they won’t necessarily draw as much defensive attention as Harvin or match his explosiveness. Unlike last season, the team won’t be able to rely on Golden Tate, who signed in the offseason with the Lions at a price that was virtually impossible for the Seahawks to match with Harvin on their books.

By acquiring Harvin via trade, the Jets will take on the remainder of his six-year contract, minus the prorated bonus money, which will accelerate onto Seattle’s cap for 2014 and 2015. A prorated portion of Harvin’s $11MM base salary for this season will be transfered to the Jets’ cap, while the Seahawks will be charged the rest of his ’14 cap hit, as well as $7.2MM in dead money for ’15. If things work out between Harvin and the Jets, the team will have the ability to keep him through the 2018 season.

The Jets had been carrying in the neighborhood of $20MM in cap room, so the club won’t have any problem fitting Harvin under the cap this season. However, New York will have to make a corresponding move and cut a player on the 53-man roster in order for the move to become official.

Latest On Percy Harvin Trade

October 18th, 2014 at 9:50am CST by Ben Levine

We heard some rumblings yesterday that the Seahawks’ trade of Percy Harvin may have been a result of the wideout’s conduct. There were reports that he punched former teammate Golden Tate during last year’s playoffs, and Seattle Times’ reporters Bob Condotta and Jayson Jenks elaborate on some of the receiver’s recent altercations, including a fight with Doug Baldwin prior to the Seahawks preseason finale against the Raiders.

Condotta and Jenks write that the final straw was during last weekend’s loss to the Cowboys. Harvin refused to go into the game during the fourth quarter, and he ultimately missed 11 of the team’s final 17 snaps.

Some additional notes and opinions have come out about the trade, and we have them all below…

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Harvin is set to have his physical this afternoon after having flown to New York early this morning. He notes that the deal could be announced today. In a following tweet, Rapoport says the wideout is “pumped” about the move.
Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com writes that the Vikings “look wise” for getting rid of Harvin when they did. The team received three draft picks in return, two of which turned into contributors Xavier Rhodes and Jerick McKinnon.
At least one member of the Seahawks wasn’t surprised to see Harvin shipped out of town. “Percy was daring the Seahawks to dump him with his actions,” the player told Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman (quotes via Twitter). “Some players loved Percy. Some players hated him. He was a divisive guy. That’s the problem…I expected it.”
Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole opines (via Twitter) that Harvin’s career could quickly be coming to an end.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com focuses on the financial side of the trade, and he calculates that the Seahawks paid Harvin a bit over $19MM for eight games played.
While the Jets were happy with the deal, some in the organization are skeptical about the Seahawks’ intent. “I smell a rat,” a source told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

Jets Release David Nelson

October 18th, 2014 at 8:38am CST by Ben Levine

The Jets have cut their roster back down to 53 following yesterday’s acquisition of receiver Percy Harvin. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports (via Twitter) that the victim of the corresponding move was Harvin’s former college teammate, David Nelson.

Nelson went undrafted out of Florida in 2010 and quickly caught on with the Bills. He compiled 1,011 yards and eight touchdowns in his first two seasons in Buffalo, but he hasn’t come close to matching that production since. He had a solid 2013 campaign with the Jets, catching 36 passes for 423 yards and two scores.

He hasn’t produced much in 2014 despite playing the second most snaps among Jets wide receivers. He’s caught only eight passes for 65 yards while fumbling twice, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks him as the worst wideout in the league among eligible players.

Poll: Who Won The Percy Harvin Trade?

October 17th, 2014 at 9:38pm CST by Rob DiRe

With the Percy Harvin trade dominating the Friday evening headlines, there are definitely arguments for why both sides were interested in completing the deal.

For readers of Pro Football Rumors, it would be impossible not to see a laundry list of opinions, whether you are looking at it as the Seahawks moving on from a headache or as the Jets acquiring a playmaker.

There are arguments for both teams as the victors in this trade. Yes, Harvin is a unique playmaker, but at the same time he clearly wore out his welcome at his last two stops, leading to an unceremonious exit.

In addition to the compilation of links and responses earlier, Manish Mehta of the Daily News points out that the Jets passed on DeSean Jackson this offseason assumedly because of character issues. Harvin’s character has been called into question since the trade became public.

Albert Breer of the NFL Network notes that the team just moved on from Santonio Holmes who was a negative influence in the locker room, only to trade for another combative personality in Harvin months later (via Twitter). As the story continued to develop, Breer has sided more and more strongly with the Seahawks’ decision to move the star receiver (via Twitter).

Still, it is tough to believe losing a player of that quality is without a doubt a positive, especially considering how hard his teammates have taken the news. Cliff Avril and Marshawn Lynch have already taken to Twitter to vent their frustration, and Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report reports that the Seahawks’ locker room has been shocked and stunned by the deal (via Twitter).

It will be at least until the end of the season before we can be sure who won this trade, maybe longer if Harvin plays out his contract with the team. Still, early reactions might favor the Seahawks, but could go either way depending on our readers.

Jets Notes: Percy Harvin, John Idzik

October 17th, 2014 at 7:53pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jets have pulled off the biggest trade of the 2014 season, grabbing Percy Harvin from the Seahawks for a conditional draft pick. The deal is unlikely to be topped as the trade deadline is fast approaching at only 11 days away. We already looked at a variety of opinions from the Seahawks’ perspective, and below are a few Jets’ notes in the aftermath of the Harvin trade.

A number of pundits have immediately reacted to the trade favorably for Seattle, but have viewed the move as a sign of desperation for the Jets. Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com notes that the move is out of character for general manager John Idzik, and that the 1-6 Jets are unlikely to recover whether or not Harvin contributes.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk feels like the trade is a “Hail Mary” for the Jets, and his colleague Michael David Smith agrees that the destination for Harvin does not make much sense.
Joe Banner, who formerly held the positions of President of the Eagles and CEO of the Browns, agreed that the deal was a reach for the Jets (via Twitter). “This looks to me like an act of desperation by the Jets, as opposed to a step in a well thought out plan,” writes Banner. “Hard to understand this one.”
In Alex Marvez’ piece for Fox Sports, he also praises the Seahawks for cutting bait while using the word “desperation” to describe the Jets’ motives.
Not everyone agrees that the move was a desperate one, as Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com defends the trade for the Jets (via Twitter). Fitzgerald notes that the move sets them up for the future, where they will get a chance to see what Harvin can do without have to spend guaranteed money on another free agent receiver (via Twitter).
Due to the lack of guarantees in his contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes that the next nine games with the Jets will likely amount to a tryout for him, with $41.5MM left to be earned through 2018 (via Twitter).
Of the most positive reactions for the Jets, Dan Graziano of ESPN stands out (via Twitter). “Jets have tons of cap space, no weapons and are trying to develop a QB,” writes Graziano. “What’s not to like about the Harvin deal?”
In determining winners and losers from the immediate aftermath of the trade, Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com lists a lot of Jets’ players and coaches on the winning side, with not a single Jet listed as a loser in the deal.
The Seahawks have already had their bye week, and with the Jets having already played Thursday, Harvin is racking up weeks off as Adam Schefter of ESPN points out (via Twitter). The Jets’ bye week comes the week of Sunday November 16th, which will serve as Harvin’s third week without a scheduled game this season.
The Jets have been known as a graveyard for fantasy football contributors, but the move could actually help Harvin in that aspect, writes Drew Loftis of the New York Post. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhingweg has failed to be creative with the offense so far this season, but Harvin was underutilized in Seattle.
Bob Glauber of Newsday has one big question following the Harvin trade. The question: why? He is left wondering what the reason for pulling the trigger on this deal at this time is for the Jets.
Glauber is not the only one to ask that question, as Mark Cannizzaro of Newsday asks a similar question: why now? Cannizzaro also compared the move by Idzik to Jets’ former general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who was known for being aggressive in seeking out trades.
Cimini also sees the similarites with Tannenbaum in this move, noting that Tannenbaum coveted Harvin during the 2009 draft (via Twitter). Reportedly he tried to trade up for him after already trading up for Mark Sanchez, but was unwilling to give up his 2010 first-round pick.

Percy Harvin Trade Roundup

October 17th, 2014 at 6:38pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Percy Harvin trade came this afternoon seemingly out of nowhere, and has sent the NFL and all covering it into overdrive. For many of our readers, I am sure their Twitter feeds have turned into a sea of Harvin stories and opinions.

Luke Adams already did a fantastic job of covering the initial report, but below is a compilation of some of the most interesting aspects surrounding Harvin’s departure from the world champion Seahawks and his prospects going forward with the Jets.

One team source for the Seahawks has already come out to explain the team’s motives, reports Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). “It was time for a change. It’s that simple. We got a good deal. He’s happy, we’re happy,” said the source. “Percy didn’t want to be here. We accommodated him.”
Freeman also noted that a piece he wrote last December in which he labeled the Harvin trade from the Vikings to the Seahawks as a bust had produced the most hate he had ever experienced from a fan base over something he had written (via Twitter).
The Seahawks will still have the remnants of Harvin on their cap over the next two seasons, but for the Jets it amounts to a four-year contract worth $10MM per season with no guaranteed money, reports Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com (via Twitter). The specifics of the contract can be found at OverTheCap.com.
In the piece he wrote up about the trade, Fitzgerald believes that this is the rare case of a deal that works for both teams. Still, he notes that the Seahawks were able to clear cap space by trading a player who didn’t fit (via Twitter). He also points out the the team’s relationship with Jets’ general manager John Idzik likely facilitated the transaction (via Twitter), and that the team likely regrets not being able to re-sign Golden Tate in light of losing Harvin (via Twitter).
Joel Corry of The National Football Post agrees that the decision to acquire and pay Harvin took Tate off the table during this past free agency period (via Twitter).
One reason the Seahawks may have wanted to move on from Harvin is that he is being paid like one of the best receivers in the NFL, writes Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com (via Twitter). Over his short time with the team, he has failed to live up to that price tag. Rosenthal looks at some other reasons for the trade in his piece for NFL.com.
Trading Harvin opens up cap space that could allow the team to re-sign other top players such as Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, and Russell Wilson, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter).
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk applauds the Seahawks for moving on after a mistake instead of making a second mistake keeping Harvin around.
Anger management issues are central to the problems Harvin has had with both the Seahawks and Vikings, writes Albert Breer of NFL Network (via Twitter).
Lance Zierlein of 790 Sports Talk in Houston heard similar things about Harvin’s anger management problems and the role they played in this trade (via Twitter). He reports that Harvin punched fellow receiver Tate leading up to the Super Bowl last year and almost fought with Wilson earlier this season (via Twitter). The problem was severe enough to significantly hinder the team (via Twitter).
This doesn’t come as a surprise to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, who has been hearing that the team’s locker room has been oddly tense for a defending champion (via Twitter).
There is support for head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider‘s attitude towards negative locker room influences, headlined by Steve Sandmeyer of 1090 the Fan in Seattle (via Twitter).
On the field, the team has been talking about how they need to get back to basics and feed the running game, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).

NFC West Links: Sam, Williams, Harvin, Brown

August 23rd, 2014 at 2:31pm CST by Rob DiRe

As the final cut from 75 to 53 is only a week away, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch takes some time to break down where everyone on the Rams’ roster stands. Thomas divided each player on the roster into one of three categories: safe and sound, on the bubble, or probably not. The big name that is still on the bubble is rookie defensive end Michael Sam. With a crowded defensive line, Sam has only a week left to make his final impression and land on the team’s roster.

Here are some other links from around the NFC West:

While Brian Hoyer has earned the starting job for the Browns, Rams‘ head coach Jeff Fisher is looking forward to seeing a lot of Johnny Manziel, writes Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat. “I’m hoping he gets to play a lot,” Fisher said. “He’s an outstanding athlete, and he’ll test our defense if he breaks the pocket and takes off running.”
49ers‘ Ian Williams had won the starting nose tackle job last season before being sidelined with an injury, but he is healthy again and head coach Jim Harbaugh thinks he looks better than he did before the fractured leg, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “Just in the movement, in the quickness, the burst of separation, driving to the ball,” Harbaugh said. “He looks better than before. That’s what I’ve seen so far.”
Seahawks‘ receiver Percy Harvin has flashed his playmaking ability this preseason, and has fans imagining what he could do if he stays healthy for a full season, writes Dave Boling of the News Tribune. “The Seahawks finished 18th in the NFL in offensive gains last season,” writes Boling. “Harvin will get them near the top 10 with his efforts alone.”
Harvin has drawn praise from his fellow Seahawks as well, with quarterback Russell Wilson touting his top target, writes Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. “What Percy brings to the offense is grit, and a desire to get into the end zone, a desire to get the ball in his hands and make something happen,” said Wilson. “Every time he touches the football, he’s either going to run over you or run by you, one of the two. That’s what he brings to the table, his explosive mentality.”
Cardinals‘ rookie receiver John Brown has taken camp by storm, and Peter King of Sports Illustrated is the latest to join the bandwagon of praising the young Division II wideout. King notes that he has had success working in a number of different packages and should be heavily involved in the offense this season.

Packers Sign Jordy Nelson To Extension

July 26th, 2014 at 11:09am CST by Matt Feminis

Packers receiver Jordy Nelson has agreed to a four-year, $39MM contract extension, including $14.2MM guaranteed, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. He says the deal will average $9.76MM and Nelson will receive a $11.5MM signing bonus.

On Thursday, Luke Adams relayed a report that Nelson was seeking $10MM per year, and provided perspective on Nelson’s standing amongst some of the league’s other top receivers. Ultimately, Nelson got what he was seeking at a number the Packers are probably happy with, too. In his story, NFL.com’s Kevin Patra says Nelson is “still a very good bargain for the Packers.”

In terms of guaranteed money, Nelson’s $14.2MM will slot just below the likes of Eric Decker ($15MM), rookie Mike Evans ($14.6MM) and Percy Harvin ($14.5MM) and above Golden Tate ($13.3MM) and Pierre Garcon ($13.1MM). The 29-year-old Nelson has established himself as one of the best receivers in the NFC, earning the role of Aaron Rodgers go-to man thanks to his consistency, dependability and playmaking. The departure of Greg Jennings did not affect Nelson’s production last season, as he totaled 85 receptions for 1,314 and eight touchdowns.

Now, the Packers will turn their attention to Randall Cobb, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal. In a Twiter exchange, two of the media’s most prominent salary cap experts, CBS’ Joel Corry and OverTheCap.com’s Jason Fitzgerald, provided instant reaction to the Nelson news and how it affects Cobb’s future. Corry says most teams do not have two high-priced receivers, adding, “If Randall Cobb views himself as a Percy Harvin type player, signing him to a contract extension will be extremely difficult.”

NFC Notes: Seahawks, Ryan, Packers, Saints

February 10th, 2014 at 9:47am CST by Luke Adams

Several players from the Super Bowl champion Seahawks had their 2014 salaries become fully guaranteed this week, notes Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com in his latest update on teams’ cap space. Percy Harvin, Cliff Avril, and Kam Chancellor had their contracts for 2014 vest from partially guaranteed to fully guaranteed, according to Fitzgerald, who notes that Matt Ryan of the Falcons was among the other players in that boat.

Here’s more from across the NFC:

Having drafted well and avoided bad contracts, the Packers will have significantly more cap flexibility this offseason than many of their NFC rivals, says Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
13 players from the Saints‘ Super Bowl win in 2010 remain on the team’s roster, but as many of nine of those players could depart this offseason, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. As Triplett points out, four are unrestricted free agents, while five more are potential cap casualties.
Compensatory picks for the 2014 draft won’t be announced for a few more weeks, and the Falcons‘ situation is murky, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. Based on projections by Craig Turner (via Philly.com), the Falcons could add as many as four compensatory picks, but may end up with just one or two, depending on where the cutoff is.
The Redskins have hired former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams to their front office as a personnel executive, the team announced today in a press release.

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