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Offensive weapon Percy Harvin has plummeted from the top of the league. The Seahawks traded for Harvin from the Vikings in exchange for a first round pick. Harvin was injured and didn't really play outside of the Super Bowl, where he broke the game open with big plays and kick returns.
Harvin reportedly had issues with the Seahawks coaches and the Seattle front office decided to flip him to the Jets for a conditional pick. Harvin has a monster contract for his low output and the conditional pick drops from a 4th to a 6th if Harvin isn't on the Jets on March 19th.
All signs point to a split between Harvin and New York. Well, if a receiver is on the market, guess who gets linked?
Would be shocked if Percy Harvin agreed to any reduced deal w/NYJ. Expect NE among those interested. And I keep hearing Spiller to Jets
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) February 24, 2015
The Patriots really wanted Harvin out of the University of Florida in 2009, so there is a history between the parties. Harvin is a tremendous talent who has spent the majority of the his past four seasons with old Donovan McNabb, Christian Ponder, Joe Webb, Michael Vick, and Geno Smith.
He is a game changer when he's on, but that is not a given when it comes to Harvin.
The price tag is an issue for the Jets, since Harvin doesn't want to reconstruct and is averaging over $10 million per season for the next four years. However, if the Jets cut Harvin loose, then the market will dictate the price and there isn't much of a need for a potential headache at wide receiver. With Randall Cobb a desired entity on the market, the soon-to-be 27 year old Harvin represents a cheaper alternative.
The Patriots would likely be able to sign him to a cheap, one-year incentive laden deal.
Still, the addition of Harvin would give the Patriots three Z receivers, with Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell already successful on the roster.
On the surface, it doesn't make sense. The Patriots need to save money for Darrelle Revis and Devin McCourty. Harvin doesn't really have an opening on the offense.
Yet, on the backside, why wouldn't this work? Bill Belichick has a way of bringing in players that catch his fancy (Chad Ochocinco? John Lynch? Fred Taylor?) and even if they don't pan out, it's usually with no costs for New England. If Belichick wants to kick the tires and the price tag is cheap, why not give Harvin a test run?