HARVIN CAN CATCH ANYTHING BUT A BREAK

SEATTLE — Percy Harvin is one of the best playmakers in the National Football League. He can run, he can catch, he can return. What he has been unable to do is stay on the fi eld. After taking only 20 snaps this season because of setbacks from a surgically repaired hip, the multipurpose threat was eager to give the Seattle Seahawks some return on their investment in Saturday’s NFC playoff game against the New Orleans Saints at CenturyLink Field, won by Seattle 23- 15. The Seahawks gave up a bevy of draft picks to the Minnesota Vikings and signed Harvin to a six- year, $ 67 million dollar contract ($ 14.5 million fully guaranteed), only to have him participate in just one regularseason game in 2013. That was back on Nov. 17 against his old team, the Vikings, when he had one catch for 17 yards and one kick return for 58. But Harvin’s star- crossed season continued against the Saints when he was clobbered twice in the fi rst half, by safeties Rafael Bush and Malcolm Jenkins, and had to leave the fi eld for concussion protocol testing. On the fi rst instance, Bush was fl agged for contacting the defenceless receiver. On the second, Harvin went airborne in the end- zone in an attempt to grab a pass from quarterback Russell Wilson and cracked his helmet against the turf on the landing. A visibly groggy Harvin had to be aided from the fi eld by a couple of Seahawks staff ers. It did not look good for his participation in next Sunday’s NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink. “The poor kid,” said Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. “He fi nally gets a chance to play and then bangs his head on the turf really hard. He was OK the fi rst time, but the second one really rocked him, so they’re treating him for concussion protocol. He was just sick about not being able to go back out there.” When he did play, Harvin looked like money. He had three catches for 21 yards, which included a spectacular 16- yard reception when he elevated himself above cornerback Corey White to make the play. Harvin is considered a beast in the read- option as much as ( Beast Mode) Marshawn Lynch is in the running game. He represents another complication for the defence. On the Seahawks’ fi rst touchdown, Harvin ran nine yards on a sweep play, thrusting the Saints into a state of wariness. On the next snap, Lynch ran up the middle for 15 yards and the game’s fi rst touchdown. “That’s just the thing he’s been showing us all year, when he’s been able to practise,” Wilson said. “He’s so explosive. It’s hard to keep up with the guy. He was an MVP candidate ( in Minnesota), a great athlete, one of the best players in our league. We hope we get him back.” The Seahawks have a 14- 3 record, largely without the handsomely- rewarded Harvin. Their off ence is built on the power running of Lynch, the scrambling/ passing of Wilson and playmakers such as wideouts Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin. In particular, Harvin’s absence has allowed Tate an opening to show his after- the- catch ability and speed and shiftiness in the open fi eld, as both receiver and returner. Still, if Harvin is a no- go next Sunday, it’s certainly another reason for optimism for the 49ers, whose passing game is humming with white- hot Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree developing chemistry with quarterback Colin Kaepernick.