Percy Harvin Showcases Versatility Against Kansas City Chiefs

Percy Harvin was a one-man wrecking crew against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, as he did a little bit of everything for the Jets

When Percy Harvin was traded to the New York Jets from the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, it was a headline that dominated the sports news, as GM John Idzik pulled off one of the bigger trades in recent NFL history. Right after he was acquired, all of Harvin’s dirty laundry began coming out, as it was almost force fed to fans that he would be a cancer and be the last straw in breaking the Jets back this season. Idzik didn’t believe so, calling it a coupe to have landed Harvin. While plenty of people were skeptical, Harvin has done his part bringing some electricity to a dormant Jets team that looks to be going nowhere. The Jets may not have gotten a victory, but that was not because of a lack of effort from Harvin.

Harvin was a one-man wrecking crew against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, as he did a little bit of everything for the Jets. He made an impact as a receiver, as a rusher and even on special teams as a return man. On the day, Harvin totaled 225 all-purpose yards, as dynamic a game the Jets have witnessed from a player of their own in a long time.

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Harvin had a huge impact in the receiving game, catching 11 passes for 129 yards. Harvin was the first Jets receiver to pass the century mark receiving in 22 games. He was targeted 13 times, and was used in more ways that just as a gadget player on bubble screens and short passes. The Jets used him as a vertical weapon, evident by the long of 42-yards he had in the game. Harvin is not happy with the gadget player label that has been placed upon him, and the Jets seem intent on allowing him to showcase that is capable more of trick plays and a glorified return man.

With that said though, Harvin also had an impact on special teams, as he showcased the dynamic return skills that were present during the Super Bowl when he returned a kickoff for a touchdown there. He may not want to be labeled as that, but he is nonetheless still a weapon to use in those situations.

Today he didn’t return one to the house, but came close with a 65-yard return. The only reason he did not make it to the end zone was because of the Chiefs’ kicker Cairo Santos. Santos stuck his foot out and tripped Harvin, or else Harvin would have had a 108-yard touchdown return. Santos was flagged on the play, and the Chiefs actually benefited as their defense was able to hold the Jets to a field goal.

Harvin said there was no doubt that he would have scored, saying, “I wouldn’t say it was dirty. I guess he was doing the best he could. But he clearly stuck his foot out.”

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It was thought that Harvin would be brought along slowly, but after playing 49 downs last week, he played nearly every down this week against the Chiefs as the Z receiver. It is the type of workload that Harvin wants to flourish with, and the Jets aren’t afraid to let him do it.

With the season all but in the gutter already, it will be interesting to see if Harvin continues putting forth efforts like he did tonight. It is hard to go from a Super Bowl contending team to one that could end up in the top-five of the draft, but it is actually a perfect situation for Harvin to be in. He can reshape his image that has been tarnished in the NFL, while showing that he can be the go-to receiver he knows he can be. The Jets may not win many more games this season, but Harvin will be worth tuning in to see. Either he will continue putting up stats like today, or you may see yet another blowout that could be the last nail in the coffin for Harvin’s career.

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