FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets general manager John Idzik insisted Monday that last week’s acquisition of wide receiver Percy Harvin wasn’t a reaction to the increasing criticism against questionable personnel moves he made in 22 months with the team.

“Pure and simple, this movie is like any other move,” Idzik said during a rare press conference at the Jets’ training complex in Florham Park, N.J. “It’s a move to improve the Jets.”

Whether he intended to or not, Idzik also improved his own image by making the splashy trade. Idzik has been thrifty and conservative throughout his tenure, during which he has hoarded draft picks and signed only one free agent — wide receiver Eric Decker — to a deal that guarantees him at least $10 million and lasts for longer than three years.

The Jets began this season with more than $21 million in cap space, a surplus for which Idzik was mocked when the Jets’ threadbare secondary fell apart and quarterback Geno Smith had no game-breaking weaponry to throw to during a 1-6 start that has the Jets in contention for the No. 1 pick next May instead of a playoff berth.

But Idzik dipped into what owner Woody Johnson would call a “rainy day fund” by acquiring Harvin, who will cost the Jets $6.48 million the rest of the season as well as a conditional sixth-round pick. Trading a late-round pick might not sound like much, except this is Idzik, who didn’t deal any of the Jets’ 12 picks in May’s draft.

“If there is a chance for us to improve our team, no matter what time of year it is, whether it be early to mid October or early to mid April, we are going to do it,” Idzik said. “When this chance presented itself, we felt like we wanted to take advantage of it. Percy can come in here and help our squad.”

Of that there seems little doubt. Harvin has 30 all-purpose touchdowns — 20 receiving and five apiece rushing and returning — in just 60 NFL games. He will immediately become the Jets’ kick returner, solidifying a spot that has been a revolving door since Joe McKnight was released before the 2013 season, and should also be used in a variety of ways on offense as the Jets try to bring some life to an anemic unit.

But rest assured people will be watching to see if Harvin hurts the Jets as much or more than he helps them. The Seahawks dumped Harvin just 20 months after acquiring him from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for three draft picks and immediately signing him to a six-year, $67 million contract.

Stories of Harvin’s disruptiveness in Seattle began sprouting up immediately after the trade was announced. He fought ex-teammate Golden Tate and left Tate with a black eye in the week leading up to the Super Bowl in February. He also got into an altercation this summer with fellow wide receiver Doug Baldwin.

ESPN reported Sunday that the Seahawks were so eager to move Harvin that they would have released him if they didn’t find a trade partner.

Harvin also rankled teammates and coaches at the University of Florida, where he played for the renegade Gators under Urban Meyer, and with the Vikings.

Idzik, who signed two players who eventually went AWOL on the Jets in running back Mike Goodson and cornerback Dimitri Patterson, said he did his due diligence on Harvin and that he benefited from knowing the staff in Seattle, where Idzik was an assistant general manager for six seasons before joining the Jets.

“We did a ton of background,” Idzik said. “No different in this case. I just so happen to know a lot of people in Seattle very closely. So I guess I had that advantage too. We had very forthright conversations about Percy and what happened there. I decided it was prudent to move forward.”

Harvin acknowledged the tussles with Tate and Baldwin on Monday but said he didn’t believe he had anger management issues. He also said the Jets encouraged him to view the trade as a fresh start by wiping the slate clean.

“The coaching staff, the management, on to the owner, they’re not worried about (his past),” Harvin said. “I even tried to explain a couple of things. They told me to be quiet and not to worry about it. It’s been all smiles here.”

Now will it stay that way? Even if Harvin manages to stay out of trouble in the locker room, there’s no guarantee he’ll stay on the field. He has played all 16 games in just one of his first five NFL seasons and missed all but one regular-season game last year because of hip surgery. He came back for the playoffs and returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the Seahawks’ 43-8 rout of the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.

Harvin played in each of the Seahawks’ first five games this year but had just 22 catches for 133 yards and no touchdowns. He also rushed 11 times for 92 yards and a touchdown while averaging 23.6 yards per return on 12 kickoffs — more than 12 yards less than his league-leading average in 2012.

Harvin was used mostly out of the slot in Seattle, a role he said he didn’t enjoy. The Jets already have an effective slot receiver in Jeremy Kerley, so it is likely Harvin will get a chance to prove he can still be a game-changing deep threat. Smith has just three completions of 30 yards or more this season.

Given all the questions surrounding Harvin, his acquisition amounts to a nine-game audition for all involved. If he fits in well, the Jets can either retain him or renegotiate his contract, which calls for him to be paid $10.5 million next year. And if not, there is no guaranteed money left on his deal, so the Jets can cut him without penalty.

“Bringing a player like Percy in is to help our offense,” Idzik said. “He is an explosive player, he is a dynamic player. I think he can help our offense.

“As we have seen, our offense has had its moments where we can move the ball, we can sustain drives. I think you bring a player like Percy in, he can help everybody that way.”

NOTES: WR David Nelson was released by the Jets on Saturday. … WR Jeremy Kerley signed a four-year, $16 million extension with the Jets on Tuesday. Kerley, who is in the final season of his rookie deal, is reportedly guaranteed $5.4 million under the terms of the new contract.