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Why Seattle traded Percy Harvin to the New York Jets

Unfulfilled expectations and bad team chemistry were reportedly behind the trade of Seattle Seahawks wide-receiver Percy Harvin to the New York Jets.

  • By Barry Wilner Associated Press

| Florham Park, N.J.

 The New York Jets have acquired wide receiver Percy Harvin from the Seattle Seahawks.

Two people familiar with the trade told The Associated Press on Friday that Harvin, a star in last season's Super Bowl but injury prone through his career, was headed to the Jets. The people spoke anonymously because the deal wasn't officially announced by either club. Pending a physical, the deal is expected to be officially announced Saturday afternoon.

The 26-year-old Harvin has played in 60 games with only 47 career starts since being a first-round NFL draft pick (22nd overall) by Minnesota in 2009. He was traded to the Seahawks in 2013, appearing in just one regular-season game because of hip surgery. But he had two rushes for 45 yards and ran back the second-half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown in Seattle's 43-8 win over Denver in the Super Bowl.

That means Seattle paid Harvin $2.375 million per game played, reports NBC News. 

New York gave up a conditional draft pick. The deal was first reported by Fox Sports.

Harvin has battled a thigh injury and was listed as questionable for the Seahawks' game at St. Louis this weekend. The Seahawks have tried to find a variety of ways to use him in their offense as a runner, receiver and on special teams, but injury woes slowed their plans.

In addition to trying find a role for Harvin, there were reports of fighting with other players, and challenging the authority of head coach Pete Carroll.

Former NFL quarterback and Seahawks radio announcer Warren Moon told SiriusXM NFL Radio Friday:

"One thing Pete Carroll wants is great chemistry on the field as well as off the field. And they had a tough time trying to figure out how to fit Percy Harvin and his skill set into what they already do as a philosophy offensively with Marshawn Lynch running the football and their play-action game. And then there was a little bit of a chemistry problem within the locker room at times with Percy, because he's a different type of guy. So I think the combination of the two made it to where he was expendable. . . . One thing . . . Pete is really, really big on is chemistry and everybody feeling comfortable with one another. And I think that's what this team has been so successful with the last three years. They've really had a great camaraderie, and they didn't want to do anything to disrupt that."

This season, Harvin has 22 receptions for 133 yards, with 12 of those catches coming behind the line of scrimmage. His average of 6 yards per catch is last among all wide receivers in the NFL averaging at least two receptions per game.

He also has 11 runs for 92 yards and a touchdown, and 12 kickoff returns for 283 yards.

New York's offense has struggled and the Jets have lost six straight since opening with a win over Oakland. Harvinfigures to team with Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley as the Jets' main weapons in a so-far weak passing game with Geno Smith at quarterback.

As a rookie, Harvin made the Pro Bowl and was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year. His best season was 2011 with 87 receptions for 967 yards and six TDs. He also rushed for 345 yards and two scores, and averaged 32.5 yards per kickoff return.

___

AP Sports Writer Tim Booth and free

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