Percy Harvin is ready for a big season in Buffalo

Since leaving the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, wide receiver Percy Harvin has seemed to have a negative condensation attached to his name whenever mentioned in conversation.

He is looking to change that around very quickly in Buffalo.

Harvin, still just 27 and one of the best pure-athletes in the entire NFL, signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Bills this offseason.

It was the first and only free agent trip that the talented wide receiver had to take.

“It was just so perfect from so many aspects,” Harvin said this week at the Bills’ opening voluntary conditioning program. “From playing with Sammy Watkins, from having a dominant run game…it looks like me and (Sammy) could face a lot of one-on-one coverage. Throw Big (Robert) Woods in there. (Charles) Clay. There are just going to be mismatches all over the field.”

Harvin also saw a big chance to contribute on special teams (he has five career kickoff returns for touchdowns) and took notice of how talented of a roster the Bills were starting to assemble.

“When I looked at the special teams unit, facing them, those guys were in the top five last year,” Harvin said “I look to plug in there and have a lot of success there. A dominant defense. It just became a no-brainer for me. Definitely playing for Coach Ryan over there. I fell in love with the receiver coach Sanjay (Lal). It just was a no-brainer for me.”

The New York Jets released Harvin this off-season, after they just recently acquired him in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks mid-way through last season. His New York career lasted just eight games and Harvin, along with his $10.5 million salary, became expendable after they traded for star wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears.

It didn’t take long for Harvin to find a new home on the open market.

“It happened so quick, it was instant,” Harvin said. “It was my number one visit. I came out here [to Buffalo] and I already knew most of the coaching staff. I was in love with all of the defensive coaches. Coach Dunbar, he was with me at Minnesota. We had a connection there.”

“All of the dots just connected from the offense, defense and special teams standpoint. I am loving it right now.”

There has never been a question about Harvin’s playmaking ability and the versatility his brings to an offense will be very welcomed on what is become a stacked skill position for the Bills. In his six seasons, Harvin has hauled in 332 receptions for 3,802 yards and 21 touchdowns. He has also had 140 carries over that time for 885 yards and another five scores.

Off-the-field and injury concerns have seemed to make people forget about Harvin’s potential. Even after a couple of down years statically, the talent is still there.

So is now the time for him to have a really dominant season?

“Definitely. The best has yet to come,” said a confident Harvin. “The world has not seen my best ball yet. That is why coming here was so important to me. When I looked at the running game, then I looked at Sammy Watkins on the other side and me on the other side with Robert Woods—it spelled nothing but success for me.”