Jets release wide receiver Percy Harvin

The New York Jets released wide receiver Percy Harvin on Tuesday. Keeping Harvin would have cost the Jets $10.5 million against the salary cap in 2015.

The New York Jets released wide receiver Percy Harvin on Tuesday, the team announced.

Keeping Harvin would have cost the Jets $10.5 million against the salary cap in 2015. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network first reported the Jets' plans to cut Harvin.

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[daily_cut.nfl]"Percy is a talented player who has been a model teammate with the Jets," general manager Mike Maccagnan said in a release. "We've made it clear to Percy and his representatives that we are open to a potential return if there is an arrangement that works for both sides, but out of respect for Percy, we want to give him an opportunity to test the market and evaluate his options. We appreciate his patience as we’ve worked through this process."

Harvin, 27 in May, was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks in a trade on Oct. 18 in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick and a conditional draft pick. If he had been on the Jets' roster on March 19, New York would have owed Seattle a fourth-round pick. Seattle will now receive a sixth-round pick. 

Harvin's departure seemed likely after the Jets acquired wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears. 

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In eight games with the Jets last season, Harvin had 29 receptions for 350 yards. He also had 110 yards on 22 rushing attempts. 

After Harvin was traded from Seattle, reports surfaced that he was unpopular with his teammates. Bob Condotta and Jayson Jenks of The Seattle Timesreported that Harvin and then-teammate Golden Tate had an altercation before Super Bowl XLVIII "that resulted in Tate getting a black eye." The Times also reported that Harvin and teammate Doug Baldwin had an altercation before a preseason game in 2014 in which Baldwin suffered a cut on his chin. 

- Dan Gartland