Jets won't let Percy Harvin talk to media until Friday
Jets wide receiver Percy Harvin talks to the media at his locker after his first practice since his trade from Seattle in Florham Park, N.J., Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. Credit: AP / Rich Schultz
Percy Harvin politely did as he was told.
The newest and most intriguing player in the Jets' locker room told reporters Wednesday that he had been instructed by the team not to answer questions from the media until Friday. The Jets' public relations director made a beeline toward the crowd to ensure the order was followed.
So while Harvin was forced to keep quiet, his new teammates raved about his playmaking ability after his second day of practice.
"I'm excited. I saw firsthand what he can do,'' said wide receiver Eric Decker, who as a member of the Broncos lost, 43-8, to Harvin's Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. Harvin had two carries for 45 yards and returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown.
"Very versatile, very explosive, has always made big plays. It's nice to have him on this team and be able to open things up, both vertically and horizontally, throughout the field. So he's going to come in and be an impact player, for sure.''
Rex Ryan, however, tried to temper the expectations for his speedy new receiver, whom the Jets acquired Friday from the Seahawks in exchange for a conditional draft pick. Ryan said there will be a package of plays for Harvin and he'll "strongly'' consider using him to return punts as well as kickoffs. But Ryan stressed that the coaching staff has to see how quickly Harvin can get up to speed.
His teammates already are impressed by what they see.
"Very fast guy,'' quarterback Geno Smith said. "He is picking up the offense well. A veteran guy, a guy that we expect to go out there and make plays.
"Percy is a guy who I think can make a lot of plays for us, so you love to see him out there and get into the groove of things. He can take a short pass or a short run and make it a home- run play. That is something that I think can excite our offense and excite our fans.''
Although Smith said Harvin "should be out there every play on offense,'' he cautioned against getting hopes up for that.
"This isn't video games,'' Smith said. "You have to go out there and play football. I do understand what he can bring to the table and I expect him to go out there and make great plays for us, don't get that misunderstood, but . . . we've got a bunch of guys that we have to get the ball into their hands and allow them to make plays.''
The key to the success of Harvin and the Jets' offense depends on how coordinator Marty Mornhinweg plans to use his newest weapon.
"The more shots we have down the field, it'll open up everything for us,'' slot receiver Jeremy Kerley said. "At the same time, he's good everywhere, man. Not just down the field. He's crafty, he's obviously fast, so we've just got to make sure we utilize him.''
On Monday, Harvin admitted he was frustrated by his primary role as a slot receiver in Seattle because it limited his ability to stretch the field. But Ryan said Wednesday that the Jets may use Harvin -- a 2009 first-round pick of the Vikings -- differently than he was used by both the Seahawks and the Vikings.
"I guess time will tell,'' Ryan said, later clarifying that he wasn't slighting either organization but simply pointing out the differences in their personnel. "But I truly believe with his kind of talent it's going to be a big help, obviously for our offense and with that, our whole team.''
