Percy Harvin Will Not Play Against San Francisco 49ers
By Todd Pheifer
Jan 11, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (bottom) is looked at by tight end Luke Willson (82) after Harvin was hit by New Orleans Saints free safety Rafael Bush (not pictured) during the first half of the 2013 NFC divisional playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Percy Harvin of the Seattle Seahawks will not be available for the NFC Championship game on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The talented receiver did not pass the NFL concussion protocols, and he has been ruled out.
This is hardly surprising news. If you saw the game against the New Orleans Saints, you saw the cheap shots that Harvin suffered at the hands of players like Rafael Bush. The fact that Bush was fined $21,000 is laughable. If the NFL was serious about hard hits, Bush should be suspended. The 49ers should all write “thank you” notes to Bush.
But, I digress. The focus all week has been on Harvin, though I doubt many people were really counting on him playing. His loss is unfortunate, but the Seahawks have been here before.
Would Russell Wilson love to have Harvin out on the field to stretch the defense? Obviously.
Can the Seahawks win without him? Yes.
Are Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse an underrated trio of receivers? Also, yes.
The feedback is obviously going to be mixed. I have already read some comments from fans that think Harvin is somehow afraid to play. These comments are ignorant, and miss the point that this was not Harvin’s decision.
For those fans that suggest Harvin should “man up,” this is also sad to read. I love the game of football, and it would be very satisfying to see the Seahawks win. After all these years and after the officiating debaucle that was Super Bowl XL, it would be fantastic to see Wilson, Pete Carroll and Marshawn Lynch raise the Lombardi Trophy in New York City.
That said, we are talking about someone’s life here. Think I’m exaggerating? Concussions are not something to mess around with, particular when you have had multiple hard hits to the head. The bone in K.J. Wright‘s foot will heal, and he may be good as new. The head does not heal in the same way.
Now, is the NFL a little disengenuous about their concussion policy? Is the sudden concern for player injuries a defensive strategy against current and future lawsuits? Probably. Still, there are times when you have to conclude that enough is enough, regardless of the way that it happens.
Rest up, Mr. Harvin. I hope you heal fast, and I hope there is a reason for you to be ready for action in two weeks.