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This Just In: Harvin Doesn't Work Well With Others

Written By Bob Harris | fantasy football | Posted 18-Oct-14 @ 2:04 PT

Following up on the deal sending Percy Harvin to the New York Jets for a conditional 2015 draft pick, a source told the Seattle Times that the Seahawks decided the mercurial wideout “just wasn’t a fit” with the rest of the team and the trade had as much to do with what was happening in the locker room as it did Harvin’s production on the field.

The team, a source told the Times, was “just ready to move on” from Harvin despite his obvious on-field gifts.

Sources also said a few incidents in recent months helped set the stage for Friday’s stunning trade.

One source confirmed a report that Harvin had gotten into an altercation with former Seahawk Golden Tate before the Super Bowl that resulted in Tate getting a black eye.

A source also said Harvin had an altercation with Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin in the week leading up to the final exhibition game this August at Oakland that resulted in Baldwin getting a cut on his chin and each player being excused from practices that week. Harvin, who did not practice for two days before that game, did not make the trip to Oakland for what the team said at the time was “a personal matter.”

One final straw, a league source told the Times, came in last Sunday’s 30-23 loss to Dallas when Harvin apparently balked at going back into the game in the fourth quarter. Harvin played 26 of 48 official snaps but did not play 11 of the final 17. He finished with six touches for minus-1 yard.

“He’s just a time bomb,” one NFL source told the Times, describing him as “too moody” and noting that Minnesota had also grown tired of dealing with Harvin, which precipitated his trade to Seattle in March 2013.

There were also said to be concerns about Harvin undermining quarterback Russell Wilson in the locker room.

Also a factor in the trade is that moving Harvin and his hefty contract will clear up significant salary-cap space, with one source saying it will help the team keep Wilson and linebackers Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. All are players the team could re-sign or extend after the 2014 season.