Percy Harvin getting up to speed
Jets wide receiver Percy Harvin works out for the first time since his trade from Seattle during NFL football practice in Florham Park, N.J., Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. Credit: AP / Rich Schultz
Percy Harvin might be a big part of the Jets' offense Sunday against the Bills.
Then again, when a play is called, he might not even know where he's supposed to be.
"The first thing is, can he get lined up?" coach Rex Ryan said Friday when asked what he expects from the talented wide receiver, who was acquired from the Seahawks a week ago.
Said linebacker Calvin Pace, "He's an explosive player. But I think everybody needs to temper their expectations a little bit. It's his first week here. I think he's going to add a lot to the offense . . . It's not like he's going to come in and score eight touchdowns and have 500 yards receiving. He's got to get comfortable in the offense. Pretty sure he and Geno [Smith] are going to have to build some kind of rapport together. There's only so much one guy can do with only a week of preparation."
Harvin has been cramming with the playbook and on the practice field. After two days of being told by the Jets not to speak to the media, he addressed reporters Friday for the second time as a Jet and touched on many topics:
On getting exiled by the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks and ending up with the 1-6 Jets: "It's fine with me. I take the challenge and I look at here as being part of something special. Lot of people had written this team off, so I'm definitely [OK] with being part of the process of turning this thing around. Once we turn this around, I can say I was a part of something special."
On friction he did or did not have with his teammates in Seattle: "I really put it all behind me once I got here. What people are saying right now, it doesn't mean much to me. My teammates have embraced me, my brothers here, so I'm looking more forward. I'm looking forward to my time here as a New York Jet."
On learning the playbook in a short time: "It's exciting to me. I like challenges. I take everything as a challenge. I've been picking it up very well, still have a lot to do, but I think I'll get it done when the time comes."
On what he thinks of his new team: "I see a whole lot of potential right now. We got all the pieces we need -- Geno, we got receivers, we got running backs, we got offensive linemen. We got all the pieces here, so I'm just looking to fit in and do my part. I think the sky's the limit for this offense once we see time together."
On working more as a wide receiver and less as a receiver/running back hybrid: "I think as a wide receiver, you want to run wide receiver routes. So we've definitely been doing that here. I'm very excited about it. It's a challenge for me, just because I haven't done it in a while, or people think I haven't done it before. I'm just looking to go out there and be a complete player."
Ryan said the Jets have no questions about Harvin's character. He revealed the club did "extensive background checks" on Harvin before he was drafted 22nd overall by the Vikings in 2009. That was the year the Jets drafted Mark Sanchez with the fifth pick.
"I think I know this player," Ryan said.
Asked how much he expects from Harvin on Sunday, Ryan said, "I expect to get something . . . [But] you're not going to see 50 plays."
Ryan admitted, though, that he could be bluffing.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
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