RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin said he is ready to go for the Super Bowl and that he is a stronger person for what he has endured this season.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin catches the football during warm-up drills before practice on Thursday.
It’s been a roller-coaster, but also a blessing, Harvin said. I wouldn’t take anything back that has happened this year. It’s made me a stronger person.
It’s definitely been frustrating, not only for me, but all a lot of people, like my teammates not knowing if I’m going to be able to practice. That’s all over with now and we get the chance to play for the Super Bowl, so it’s all in the past.
Harvin suffered a concussion in the divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 11, and he didn’t make it through the mandatory concussion protocol in time to play in the NFC Championship Game last Sunday against San Francisco.
He signed a six-year, $67 million deal with the Seahawks last March, but had hip surgery on Aug. 1 to repair a torn labrum. Harvin played in only one regular-season game — Nov. 17 against his former Minnesota Vikings teammates.
But he aggravated his surgically repaired hip and didn’t play again until the playoff game against the Saints. He suffered a concussion late in the first half and left the game.
Harvin has a history of problems with migraine headaches, but he said that wasn’t an issue in his concussion recovery.
There were no complications,” Harvin said. We just had to go through the protocol and all the steps.
Harvin hedged a little when asked about whether his hip is back to where it was before the injury.
I really don’t know, he said. I felt pretty good, good enough to play in the game. I’ll leave it at that. I got it tuned up [Wednesday], just doing my regular stretching and treatments.
Harvin was asked how much he would be a part of the game plan for the Denver Broncos.
I’ll be in the game plan,” he said. How much we’ll have to wait and see. It’s just good to be back out there with my teammates.
Harvin praised his teammates and the entire Seahawks organization for the support he has received this season.
I can’t even put it in words, he said. Guys like [cornerback] Richard Sherman, and also [safety] Kam Chancellor, him being from my area [Virginia], came and talked to me a bunch of times. The coaches, the whole building, even the cooks, were giving me love and kept me pushing. They’ve all been there for me.
Harvin also was asked if his $67 million contract made his feel pressure to contribute more as soon as he could.
Not at all, he said. I’m a football player and I’m confident in my game. Things happened that I couldn’t control. I didn’t look at money or anything to that degree. I just wanted to get back on the field and help my teammates.