Angry or not, Jets' Harvin a dangerous weapon for Vikings to defend
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Playing against the Minnesota Vikings seemingly meant so much to Percy Harvin, it was the only game he would end up playing last season for the Seattle Seahawks.
A hip injury kept him out much of his first season with Seattle after being traded by Minnesota, but in Week 11 there was Harvin, dressed and in the lineup and as motivated as ever. He only touched the ball twice -- one 17-yard reception and a 58-yard kickoff return -- but Harvin made his statement in the Seahawks' 41-20 victory.
Harvin would end up missing the regular season before playing in two playoff games for the Super Bowl champions. The Vikings hope Harvin's got the aggression out of him as he returns to Minnesota this weekend for the first time since being traded for three draft picks.
"I'm sure that has worn off a little bit," Minnesota linebacker Chad Greenway said. "Maybe not him, we'll see. He can be an angry dude sometimes. Love him, though."
Don't mistake Greenway's intentions.
Greenway was one of the first Vikings players to tout Harvin as a potential MVP candidate when they were teammates in 2012. Through the season's first nine games, Harvin had 62 catches for 677 yards, three touchdown receptions, 22 carries for 96 yards and another touchdown, as well as a 35.9-yard kickoff return average with a touchdown return.
Of course, Harvin's temper would flare again. He would be seen yelling at coach Leslie Frazier on the sideline in a game at Seattle in which he was injured, and never played for Minnesota again.
"Percy was a great teammate," Greenway said. "Never had an issue in the locker room with any of us, and a guy that was going to give you everything, no matter what the situation was -- whether it be a practice at training camp or a game or a playoff game. He's going to give it to you. As a teammate, that's all you can really ask for."
Harvin's emotional side apparently wore thin quickly with the Seahawks, as well, and he was traded to the New York Jets, who play the Vikings this week, for a conditional 2015 draft pick.
New York's season hasn't turned with Harvin in the lineup. The Jets are 1-4 with Harvin, but so far, so good for him with his new coaches and teammates.
"I know when we brought him in here, we brought him in with a clean slate, so to speak," New York coach Rex Ryan told Minnesota reporters on a conference call this week. "He's been absolutely terrific here and what's happened in his past is with him."
Harvin has 19 catches for 182 yards in the Jets' run-first offense and has taken 17 carries for 96 yards. But he hasn't been the dynamic, versatile talent he was after Minnesota took a chance and drafted Harvin in the first round in 2009.
He scored 29 touchdowns in four seasons with Minnesota and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2009. The Vikings know what to expect from Harvin, even if he's not as angry at them anymore.
"The ball in his hands is as good as anybody as far as making people miss and getting to the end zone," Greenway said. "It's about getting the ball and finding ways to get him the ball, so that's what they're doing in New York right now. We've got to find him, where he's at -- where's Waldo a little bit -- find out where he's at and how they're going to try to use him in that set, but also stop the run game, which is also multiple."
Harvin was traded for three draft picks, which turned out to be 2013 first-rounder Xavier Rhodes, 2013 seventh-rounder Travis Bond (since released) and 2014 third-rounder Jerick McKinnon.
Since being traded though from Minnesota, Harvin has reached the end zone once. He had a rushing touchdown in Week 2 for Seattle.
The Jets are now benefitting from the attention defenses must give Harvin. Ryan isn't worried about the workload for the 5-foot-11, 184-pound Harvin, which was always a topic of concern with the Vikings.
"Through a full season, that would probably be something that you might be concerned with because you do get enamored with his athleticism," Ryan said. "You don't want to treat him . . . obviously he doesn't have the perfect running-back build. You probably don't want him taking that kind of hits, but it's such a dynamic playmaker that you want to get the ball in his hands, without question.
"But I think through a 16-game season, that might come into the conversation. But for us, it's just getting up to speed on our offense and letting go, and that's what we're trying to do."
Harvin, angry or not, will try to be up to speed facing Minnesota this week.
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