The Buffalo Bills have begun the process of figuring out what needs they have to address during the offseason, and the uncertain future of Percy Harvin is making life more difficult for the team.
Harvin battled hip and knee injuries throughout the season that reportedly had him contemplating retirement at one point. On Tuesday, Bills director of player personnel Jim Monos told WGR 550 that the team needs to find a wide receiver to play opposite Sammy Watkins.
“Percy Harvin was supposed to be a big help for us and we’re still not sure what’s going on,” Monos said, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. “He’s got to make some decisions here coming up. We need to get somebody opposite of Sammy to be a real threat to that defense. I think that’s a big key for our offense, to take one more step.”
Harvin is scheduled to earn a base salary of $9 million in 2016, but Rodak notes that his contract has a clause where it will automatically void on Feb. 12, leaving the Bills on the hook for $2 million in dead money between 2016 and 2017. With the way things are heading, it seems unlikely that the two sides will work something out before that date.
Harvin chose not to travel with the Bills to London back in October, and the team was quick to say his absence was not injury-related. There was speculation that Buffalo was paving the way to prove that Harvin chose to retire and committed a breach of contract, which would result in him having to give his signing bonus back.
We can all see how incredibly talented Harvin is, but injuries and a perceived lack of focus have resulted in some disappointing seasons. His issues with the Seahawks were well-documented, and it does not seem like things are going a whole lot better in Buffalo.
