Seahawks’ wide receiver Harvin says he’s faster, more elusive

RENTON — As a standout at the University of Florida, then in the NFL, Percy Harvin has for a long time been considered one of the most explosive players in football.

But here’s a scary thought for opposing NFL defenses: what if the Harvin who was an MVP candidate halfway through the 2012 season, and the Harvin who returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the Super Bowl last year, what if that wasn’t the best version of Harvin?

What if the Seahawks receiver is even faster and more elusive than the player who was already considered one of the NFL’s best big-play threats?

According to Harvin, that will be the case in 2014. After missing almost all of last season following hip surgery, Harvin says he’s feeling better than he has since “maybe before college.”

Harvin said the same thing during offseason workouts, so that by itself is nothing new, but the fact that he still feels this good after training camp and two preseason games is a very good sign for Harvin and Seattle’s offense. Fair or not, Harvin’s durability always will be a topic of discussion. (Never mind that he played in all but three games from 2009, his rookie season with Minnesota, until the middle of 2012 when he suffered a serious ankle injury, coincidentally, in Seattle.) So, for Harvin to be practicing almost every day and feeling this good bodes very well for the Seahawks and is bad news for Seattle’s 2014 opponents.

“When he has the football in his hands, people get a little nervous,” quarterback Russell Wilson said, referring to opposing defenders. “You just kind of get that sense. Having his presence out there on the football field, it’s a very good thing for us. He can make a lot of plays, he’s done it his whole entire career. Think about his first four years, he was an MVP-type player.”

Harvin noted that having almost an entire season off allowed his entire body to heal, and also that the hip issue had been affecting other parts of his body such as his hamstrings.

“My legs just feel how they’re supposed to feel,” he said. “It’s very fluid, very smooth, it’s all good … I definitely feel a lot better, I’ve got a lot more motion than I’m used to having, I can do a lot more cuts, just a lot of different things, a lot of motions that I wasn’t able to do before.”

Perhaps the most encouraging part of Harvin’s preseason is that he is practicing nearly every day. During an offseason minicamp, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said they wouldn’t often let Harvin practice more than two consecutive days, and that continued into the early part of training camp, but Harvin has been feeling so good that he’s pushing back when training staff wants him to take a rest day.

“We had to go back and forth a couple times on it, because those guys really wanted me to get my rest,” he said. “But after my first two, three days I felt that I was in a rhythm, so I told them I wanted to stay in a rhythm and start putting my practices back-to-back. I was recovering with no problem, as I kept going the legs kept getting fresher and fresher, and right now I’m feeling very, very good where I’m at right now. I’m looking forward to the season.”

Billionaire bests Master’s champ

With the Boeing Classic being held at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge this weekend, local golf legend Fred Couples was a guest at Wednesday’s practice, as well as new L.A. Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

After practice ended, Couples and Ballmer, as well as Seahawks Steven Hauschka, Jermaine Kearse and Cooper Helfet had a closest-to-the-pin contest, hitting floating golf balls at a green floating in Lake Washington about 90 yards away from the practice field. And in an upset, Ballmer beat the former Master’s champion in a playoff after each of them put two of three shots on the green in regulation. Hauschka, who is a 5-handicap, was the only Seahawk to hit the target during the competition, putting one of three shots on the green.

Despite being a billionaire owner of an NBA team and the former CEO of Microsoft, Ballmer said he was “a little bit nervous” before taking his hacks. And maybe it was those nerves that led to the most humorous moment of the afternoon, when after putting his first two shots on the green, Ballmer skulled his final shot and drilled a GoPro camera that was on the ground filming the action.

“I felt good that I hit something,” he quipped.

Told that the going rate on a GoPro was $2 billion — the price he paid for the Clippers — Ballmer joked, “That’s the price of everything nowadays.”

Defensive backs scuffle

It’s pretty common for small fights to happen in football practice, particularly this time of year, but what’s far more unusual is for teammates on the same side of the ball to go at it.

Yet that’s what happened early in Wednesday’s practice when defensive backs Tharold Simon and Earl Thomas had to be separated. The incident happened very early in practice while players were still warming up in position groups, so it was during the time when TV cameras are allowed to be rolling.

While it is unclear what sparked the incident, King 5 TV cameras caught most of it, beginning with Simon jumping towards Thomas, who then shoved the cornerback away. Simon took his helmet off and began jawing at Thomas before Jeremy Lane and Byron Maxwell stepped in front of Thomas while assistant coach Marquand Manuel pulled Thomas away along with linebacker Bobby Wagner.

It was the third time in as many days that players have had to be separated in practice, though in the previous two cases it was the more traditional offensive lineman vs. defensive lineman scuffle. Just a day earlier, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was asked about practice skirmishes, and said it’s something the team would prefer to avoid.

“That’s our job as coaches to get that handled as best we can,” Quinn said. “Really, we want to know what we’re competing for. At the end of it, it’s how good we can make each other by how hard we go against each other. Sometimes that line can get crossed, but what we’re competing for is to see how good we can get. That’s what the message here at practice is all about. At times the flare-ups may happen, and it’s our job to control those as quickly as we can.”

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin (2) poses for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Leyton Martin

Arlington’s do-it-all junior point guard led the Eagles to a district title and second straight Hardwood Classic.

Left to right, Mountlake Terrace’s Zaveon Jones, Glacier Peak’s Jo Lee, Everett’s Isaiah White, Arlington’s Leyton Martin, Jackson’s Ryan McFerran, and Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel pose for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area boys basketball teams

A look at the top prep boys basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips’ Andrew Petruk (26) fights for the puck during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Breaking down the Silvertips’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Giants

Everett is searching for a revenge after a shocking playoff exit against Vancouver two years ago.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, center, watches players on the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington hires AD Chun away from rival Washington State

UW quickly targeted its in-state rival’s athletic director after Troy Dannen’s sudden departure.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.