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TJ Houshmandzadeh News & Rumors

Houshmandzadeh: "If I get to the right team, I'll shock a lot of people"
June 30
Carroll County Times
 
"The last time wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh donned a Baltimore Ravens uniform typified his season of frustration. An accurate Joe Flacco pass glanced off of Houshmandzadeh's body, falling to the ground for a pivotal drop during the fourth quarter of the Ravens' playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The play still haunts Houshmandzadeh months later as he ponders where he'll play next season. "I wish things had ended better," Houshmandzadeh told the Times in a telephone interview. "I'm not a guy who drops the ball, but I dropped a ball that really matters. Last year was a really bad year for me on the field. "The last two years have been the most disappointing years I've had. I know"
Houshmandzadeh on T.O. ACL tear: "I've know about that for months, I wouldn't count him out"
June 28
National Football Post
 
"Veteran wide receiver Terrell Owens' torn anterior cruciate ligament wasn't exactly a secret in NFL circles with players. "It's crazy, I've known about that for months," wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh told National Football Post. "I didn't pry into his business. Hopefully, it's not too severe and he'll be back soon. He had a good year last year. I wouldn't ever count him out." Last year, Owens caught 72 passes for 983 yards and nine touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals."
Ravens' Harbaugh unsure on Houshmandzadeh, Stallworth
March 11
NFL.com
 
"Quarterback Joe Flacco had a breakout 2010 season for the Baltimore Ravens, but he might have to find two new targets. Ravens coach John Harbaugh isn't sure if wide receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Donte' Stallworth will be back with the team next season. Harbaugh made the comments Wednesday night during a conference call with 6,000 season-ticket holders. "You can't really put a percentage basis on it because there are so many things up in the air at this time," Harbaugh said of the chance the receivers will return, according to the Ravens' official website. "There are obviously a lot of issues that haven't been a part of the equation in the past. It's just a different calendar now with"
Ravens Q&A with wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh
January 15
Baltimore Sun
 
"Each week, we bring you a Q&A with a Ravens player to help you learn a little more about the team. Today's guest is wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who caught 30 passes for 398 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner against the Pittsburgh Steelers – today's opponent in the AFC Divisional playoff round – on Oct. 3. Houshmandzadeh talked about his reasoning for joining the Ravens, his assessment of his season, and his thoughts on his future. Question: After the Seattle Seahawks had waived you on Sept. 4, how surprised were you that the Ravens expressed interest in signing you? Answer: I was surprised. I didn't think they would have me just because of the guys they had. So"
Ravens WRs forced to check egos at door
January 4
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Les Carpenter
"The word hangs strange in a professional sports locker room of today. Sacrifice. Seriously? A group of the most prominent wide receivers in the NFL – Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh – have been placed together on the Baltimore Ravens and forced to give up dozens of their precious catches for the vague promise of what? Winning a Super Bowl? And they have done this without great complaint? "Well every once in awhile they have something to say," Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco says with a smile. There was, after all, the game earlier this season when Mason – the team's longtime star receiver – screamed at Flacco on the sideline, but that was quickly diffused. Yes, you can"
Reserving playing time for Houshmandzadeh, Stallworth
December 12
Baltimore Sun
 
"With an eye on keeping Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason fresh for a possible postseason run, the Ravens have frequently spelled their starting wide-receiving duo by giving T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Donte' Stallworth substantial playing time. "It makes it easier," wide receivers coach Jim Hostler said of rotating Boldin and Mason with Houshmandzadeh and Stallworth. "It allows you to get some guys out of the game, especially guys who have a lot of mileage on their tires. Derrick has played for 14 years. Anquan hasn't played as long as Derrick has, but he's caught a lot of balls, and he's played a lot of football games. So there's a lot of mileage that he has been through. So you tend to want to"
Houshmandzadeh says he likes playing in Baltimore, wants to return
November 26
Carroll County Times
 
"Despite his limited role this season, Baltimore Ravens veteran wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said he likes playing in Baltimore and would consider returning next season depending on how he would be utilized. "I'll worry about next year when it comes," Houshmandzadeh said. "I've never been one to look ahead when it comes to situations like that. I'll worry about that when it comes. I like being here. I like being in the locker room, but there's a lot of things I've thought about. I like being here, I really do. "Once the season ends, one, are we going to be playing football? How many games will we play? Will it be a full season or a full offseason? And, two, you don't know what will"
Flacco, Houshmandzadeh, Mason reach milestones vs. Panthers
November 22
Baltimore Sun
 
"For what seemed to be the first time in a while, the Ravens met an opponent that didn't appear to be too concerned about defending the deep ball. And the offense took advantage, going long early and then finding underneath and intermediate routes later. That flexibility helped the Ravens secure a 37-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. "I think we definitely showed those guys that we were going to try to take shots downfield," quarterback Joe Flacco said. "Even when we didn't throw the ball downfield, we were making moves that were going to push those corners back, and I think that may have helped us do some things later on in the game." Against a"
Houshmandzadeh laments missed touchdown opportunity
November 8
Baltimore Sun
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught two passes for 34 yards in the Ravens' 26-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins Sunday, but afterwards, he was left contemplating about a third reception that never happened. On third down-and-5 from Miami's 37-yard line, quarterback Joe Flacco hit wide receiver Anquan Boldin for an 8-yard gain and a first down. But Flacco failed to see a wide-open Houshmandzadeh streaking down the left sideline and into the end zone. After the game, Houshmandzadeh smiled before answering a question about being overlooked on that play. "I was telling somebody that it's just not my year," he said. "Life is full of peaks and valleys, and I was at the peak for quite a while. I'm in a"
Houshmandzadeh continues to express disappointment over role
October 9
Baltimore Sun
 
"Days after catching the game-winning touchdown in Pittsburgh, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh continued to express disappointment over his role in the offense. Houshmandzadeh ranks sixth on the team with five catches after four games. According to the former Pro Bowl wide receiver, he was told that he was going to get between 50 to 60 catches before he signed with the Ravens. "For me, I knew coming in what I was getting myself into," Houshmandzadeh said. "But I believe in myself. So the belief in myself said once they see me, things will change. We'll see if that holds to be true." Houshmandzadeh said he only played 12 snaps against Cleveland in Week 3 and had about the same number at"
T.J. Houshmandzadeh's return to Cincinnati not what he hoped
September 20
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh doesn't think Bengals fans were booing him in his return to Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday. Instead, the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver thought they were chanting "Hoooouuusssshhhh" late in the first half. That's debatable, but one thing was loud and clear after the game: Houshmandzadeh was booing himself. "Of everyone who played today, I was the only one who didn't make a play," said Houshmandzadeh, who did not record a catch in his first game against the Bengals since his free-agent departure after the 2008 season. "I didn't do anything. It's my fault." That self-accountability is among the reasons why Houshmandzadeh was a fan-favorite during his eight seasons in"
Houshmandzadeh recalls rise with Bengals
September 17
Baltimore Sun
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught more than 500 passes for the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in the Pro Bowl and a playoff game there. On a team where Chad Ochocinco was clearly the squeaky wheel, Houshmandzadeh was often the voice of reason. But until NFL Network did a fantasy-league-inspired commercial in which his name was mangled -- not once, but several times -- by an unknowing fan, Houshmandzadeh had not arrived on the national stage. Now, he's all over it. The Ravens' newest receiver is recognized as one of the NFL's most productive playmakers as well as one of its most articulate. In the past four years, he has 373 catches, third most in the league. An unrestricted free agent in 2009,"
T.J. now a rival among friends
September 16
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"If T.J. Houshmandzadeh's return to Cincinnati had happened last year, the excitement level would have been off the charts. But when he arrives Sunday with the Baltimore Ravens, it will still elicit intrigue, especially since he plays for an AFC North rival. While Houshmandzadeh is happy to face his old team, he is even more excited about going up against cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall again. "It's exciting because the Bengals are good. Period," Houshmandzadeh said Wednesday. "You're going against J-Joe, who I think is one of the top 6-7 corners in the league and you're going against Leon who is one of the top 10 ... and you're going against Pacman (Adam Jones) who can be one of"
New Ravens wide receiver Houshmandzadeh speaks
September 8
Baltimore Sun
 
"Getting familiar with the Ravens' playbook is the first priority for wide receiver T.J.Houshmandzadeh. Getting comfortable with his new team's colors is another objective. "It was a little weird when I tried my helmet on today," the team's newest offensive addition said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference at the team's training facility in Owings Mills. "I'm not a person that really likes change. I'm starting to realize that about myself. But sometimes change is better." After eight seasons of playing against them as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals and one year with the Seattle Seahawks, Houshmandzadeh gets to line up with the Ravens, who agreed to a one-year, $855,000 deal."
Signing Houshmandzadeh is great move
September 7
Baltimore Sun
 columnist Mike Preston
"The Ravens signing wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh Monday was a great move. If the Cincinnati Bengals have all the firepower in the AFC North, then what about the Ravens? Offensively, they should be able to go toe to toe with any team in the league, not just passing offense, but pure balance. Houshmandzadeh has been a little eccentric at times during his career, but name me a top receiver who hasn't. He has always been a thorn in the Ravens' sideand he is tough. He has no fear of going over the middle and going after a pass. If the Ravens got him for the veteran minimum, then general manager Ozzie Newsome should be arrested for stealing. If the Ravens can get the offensive line healthy"
Ravens upgrade receiving corps by signing Houshmandzadeh
September 7
Baltimore Sun
 
"The Ravens' relentless mission of building a top-flight passing attack continued Monday, when the team reached a one-year agreement with free-agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and traded former first-round pick Mark Clayton to the St. Louis Rams. In a span of six months, the Ravens gutted one of the thinnest wide receiver groups and built one of the NFL's best for quarterback Joe Flacco. A team that once didn't have a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver now has three who have headlined passing games at some point in their careers. Houshmandzadeh, Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason have all produced 100-catch seasons, and each caught at least 73 passes last season. And they all share these"
Ravens sign WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh
September 6
Baltimore Sun
 
"A week before the season opener, the Ravens strengthened their wide receiver group by signing free-agent T.J. Houshmandzadeh. According to ESPN, it is a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. The Ravens have yet to confirm the agreement. Houshmandzadeh, 32, who was released by the Seattle Seahawks after one season with the team, would likely be the No. 3 receiver behind Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason. He reportedly considered the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders before reaching a deal with the Ravens. This move -- which comes hours after the New York Jets (the Ravens' season opening opponent) reached a new deal with cornerback Darrelle Revis -- is a surprising one. The Ravens"
Vikings have holes to fill but receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh not in mix
September 6
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Three days before the season opener at New Orleans, the Vikings are still looking to add depth at cornerback, wide receiver and possibly the offensive line. At least one high-profile receiver probably won't be coming to the Twin Cities. Coach Brad Childress on Sunday quieted speculation that former Pro Bowler T.J. Houshmandzadeh, released by Seattle last week, was headed to Minnesota. The Vikings are not interested "right now," Childress said. "I'd probably be more prone to seeing if we can find a younger guy or somebody that's been around in a West Coast offense," he said. The Vikings have four healthy wide receivers, three healthy cornerbacks and seven healthy linemen who survived"
Marvin Lewis: Reunion with TJ unlikely
September 6
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"As much as some fans would love to see a reunion between the Bengals and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, coach Marvin Lewis doused any hopes of that happening, especially with the makeup of the current receiving corps. "If our team were constituted differently this would be a great spot for him to be back at," Lewis said. "But right now where we are, I don't know that it would be good for him in respect to where we are." With Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens and Jordan Shipley as the top three receivers, it would be hard to see how the 10-year veteran could crack that lineup. Houshmandzadeh left Cincinnati last year in free agency to sign with Seattle, but a change in regimes from Jim Mora to Pete"
Redskins could be a possibility for Houshmandzadeh
September 6
Washington Post
 
"Although the Redskins opted to keep six wide receivers on their 53-man roster, they're apparently still considering other options. Put T.J. Houshmandzadeh near the top of that list. Unable to broker a trade before the deadline for roster cuts, the Seattle Seahawks released Houshmandzadeh on Saturday. According to the Seattle Times, his top options now appear to be the Redskins and the Oakland Raiders. Houshmandzadeh could be a good deal for some team. Though he has a guaranteed salary of $7 million this season, Seattle will pay the bulk of the contract. Houshmandzadeh will likely land somewhere for the veteran minimum. Though the Redskins kept a half dozen receivers on the roster, only"
Houshmandzadeh officially no longer a Seahawk
September 5
Seattle Times
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh's departure was hardly a surprise after it became clear the past two days the Seahawks were looking to get rid of the receiver. The surprise Saturday was that more veterans did not join Houshmandzadeh among Seattle's cuts as the team trimmed its roster to 53 players. Running back Julius Jones remains on the team. So does safety Jordan Babineaux and guard Ben Hamilton, all sticking with a team that spent a good chunk of the last month pruning veterans. Of the 20 players Seattle released or waived, Houshmandzadeh was the only one who started a game for Seattle last season. He becomes an unrestricted free agent, eligible to sign with any other team. Seattle remains on the"
T.J. Houshmandzadeh's time with the Seahawks is coming to an end
September 4
Seattle Times
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh left Seattle on Friday, flying out of town. His departure from the Seahawks is expected Saturday, when the team is expected to release him if it can't trade him. Saturday is the deadline for NFL teams to trim their rosters to 53 players. Either way, Seattle is expected to cut ties with the receiver it signed only a year ago, even if that means eating the $7 million in guaranteed salary he is owed for 2010. Houshmandzadeh did not answer his phone or return a text message Friday. Chad Ochocinco, his former teammate at Oregon State and with the Cincinnati Bengals, expressed his surprise on Twitter. "Disturbing news," Ochocinco wrote. "I can't even fathom the thought of a"
Housh gets feeling he's not wanted in Seattle
September 3
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"Ask T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and he'll tell you he has one foot out of the door in Seattle. The veteran wide receiver expressed his frustration with a report on the league's website that the Seattle Seahawks are shopping him around the NFL and looking for a trade partner after the team's final exhibition game in Oakland. "If Pete (head coach Pete Carroll) feels like that makes them better, then I'll be somewhere else," Houshmandzadeh said. "It's as simple as that. I can't control it. I'm the type of dude where it doesn't bother me because I can't control it, but it does bother me because nobody said anything to me, and nobody has said anything to me. "And I've got a wife and kids that are"
Seattle WRs receivers recuperating from surgeries
May 1
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"Seahawks top receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh is recuperating from hernia surgery, and former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch just had his third knee operation in just over two years. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Friday there's "always a concern" whenever a knee undergoes surgery a third time, but that Branch's arthroscopic procedure last week was a minor cleanup. Carroll says Houshmandzadeh's injury had bothered him since the end of last season and did not improve during the early offseason. Houshmandzadeh had 79 catches in his first season with the Seahawks. They signed him as a coveted free agent last spring."
No regrets for Seahawks' Houshmandzadeh
November 19
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"Is T.J. Houshmandzadeh experiencing buyer's remorse? The Seattle Seahawks receiver says he does not regret his decision to sign with Seattle as a free agent during the offseason, even though they are virtually out of the playoff hunt for a second straight season with a 3-6 record. Houshmandzadeh's other choices included the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle's opponent this week, who sit at 8-1 and lead the NFC North, and a return to his former team in Cincinnati. The Bengals are now 7-2 and leading the AFC North. Houshmandzadeh said all three teams offered about the same amount of money, and his decision ultimately came down to choosing between Minnesota and Seattle. What made the deal for the"
On second thought: T.J. Houshmandzadeh's flirtation with Minnesota
November 19
Seattle Times
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh visited two teams in free agency, first coming to Seattle and then heading to Minnesota. Seahawks coach Jim Mora kept a Breitling watch as collateral, the Vikings used a ruse to get rid of a limousine designated to take Houshmandzadeh to the airport. Houshmandzadeh felt comfortable with Vikings coach Brad Childress, thought owner Zygi Wilf was "super cool" and counted running back Adrian Peterson among the assets. "They had a great run game," Houshmandzadeh said of Minnesota. "They had a great offensive line and the offensive line is the backbone of every team, but when it came down to it I felt like the quarterback situation -- which kind of makes a receiver go -- it"
Hindsight is 20/20, but Vikings are 8-1
November 19
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Many things appealed to T.J. Houshmandzadeh about the Vikings as they courted the free-agent wide receiver last winter. Houshmandzadeh loved the Vikings' top-notch ground game that featured Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson and a solid offensive line that would open up things for the pass. He felt extremely comfortable with Vikings coach Brad Childress and wide receivers coach George Stewart. Heck, Houshmandzadeh even thought owner Zygi Wilf was "super cool." But one thing bugged the veteran. "When it came down to it, I felt like the quarterback situation -- which kind of makes a receiver go -- it was a better situation here so I did what any receiver would do," Houshmandzadeh said."
Another loss leaves Houshmandzadeh stunned, frustrated
November 2
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"As the frustration of a 2-5 season builds for all members of the Seattle Seahawks, it tends to be most visible on the most expressive of their players: Receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Houshmandzadeh was the team's highest-priced addition of the offseason, landing a $40 million contract as a free agent. But his performance on Sunday – four catches for 24 yards – reflected the frustration he's voiced much of the season. "I am stunned," he said after the Seahawks' 38-17 loss to Dallas. "It is frustrating for me … period." Houshmandzadeh sometimes makes gestures of frustration when he and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck fail to connect, and he engages in animated discussions on the sideline. "I am"
Nice birthday present
October 12
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"In terms of pure emotion, it was difficult to discern who had more – T.J. Houshmandzadeh or the crowd of 67,228 at Qwest Field, because both had been waiting for that moment for so long. With just under five minutes to go in the first half and Seattle leading 6-0, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck hit a wide-open Houshmandzadeh along the sideline for a 34-yard touchdown pass. Houshmandzadeh threw a nasty fake on 2006 Pro Bowl cornerback Rashean Mathis, who bit on a short route only to see Houshmandzadeh go by. "Rashean is a corner that likes to take chances," Houshmandzadeh said. "He took a chance and he was wrong." It was the much-anticipated first touchdown as a Seahawk for Houshmandzadeh"
Despite good numbers, T.J. Houshmandzadeh is disappointed with his performance
October 5
Seattle Times
 
"The numbers - eight catches for 103 yards - indicated that it was the best game of receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh's young Seahawks career. But Houshmandzadeh, who signed a five-year, $40 million deal with Seattle in the offseason after eight years in Cincinnati, knows as well as anyone that sometimes the numbers lie. "Man, my catches came in garbage time, so it doesn't matter," said Houshmandzadeh after Seattle's 34-17 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday. "They weren't meaningful. They weren't when the game was a game. So it doesn't matter." And it was symbolic of the entire Seahawks offense, which never got going until long after the game was decided. The Colts led 34-3 before the Seahawks drove"
Chicago Bears defensive backs refuse war of words with Seahawks receiver
September 25
Chicago Tribune
 
"Technically speaking, Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh has bragging rights over Bears linebacker Lance Briggs. Back in 2000, when Briggs was in his second year at Arizona and Houshmandzadeh was in his one and only year at Oregon State, Houshmandzadeh's Beavers pummeled Briggs' Wildcats 33-9. "I've been playing against T.J since college, so I know what type of competitor he is," Briggs said Thursday. "The guy can play." He can run his mouth too. Houshmandzadeh's brash comments that he will best the Bears' defensive backs 95 percent of the time Sunday and show up general manager Jerry Angelo for not signing him in free agency echoed Thursday throughout Halas Hall. "Sounds like a bitter"
WR eager to show what Bears missed
September 24
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It's probably good for the Bears that T.J. Houshmandzadeh picked the Seattle Seahawks in free agency over the Minnesota Vikings. That way, they'll face him just once this season. The veteran wide receiver remembers the phone calls he didn't receive from the Bears when free agency opened. ''Aw, man, the Bears ain't hollered at me,'' Houshmandzadeh said Wednesday on a conference call with reporters. ''Jerry Angelo probably didn't think I could play, so I'm going to show him Sunday.'' Houshmandzadeh already has done his homework on the Bears, noting that cornerback Zack Bowman attended Nebraska. ''Look, I'm going to be realistic with you guys,'' Houshmandzadeh said. ''I feel like I'm going to"
JUST CALL HIM HOUSH
September 10
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"The talent is undeniable, the work ethic admirable and the physical toughness a given. But more than a few NFL observers raised eyebrows during the offseason after witnessing the type of swagger T.J. Houshmandzadeh exhibited after joining the Seattle Seahawks, perhaps thinking that when the team signed him to a five-year, $40 million deal, maybe Seattle got the bravado of Cincinnati's other playmaking receiver, Chad Ochocinco. Among Houshmandzadeh's more boastful claims during the team's run-up to training camp, he said he and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will go to the Pro Bowl as a tandem, guaranteed a top-five receiving season and considered boycotting the 2010 version of the Madden"
Houshmandzadeh's step up in Seattle: Now he's the No. 1 guy
August 26
Green Bay Press Gazette
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh likes it here.And the Seattle Seahawks like having him here. "And that pretty much says it all," the wide receiver says after a recent training camp practice here outside the glistening team facilities surrounded by woods and water. "The views here are spectacular, as you can see. There's a lot to like." Houshmandzadeh, who spent eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, also likes the fact that he no longer labors under the shadow of a former teammate Chad Ochocinco. Yes, Ochocinco's presence helped clear resistance for Houshmandzadeh, and that's one reason he's the only receiver in the league to have caught at least 90 passes the past three seasons. But when he"
T.J. Houshmandzadeh brings high expectations to Seahawks camp
August 4
Seattle Times
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh has caught more passes than anyone in the NFL over the past four seasons. He also grabbed more attention than anyone when Seattle opened its practice to spectators on the fourth day of training camp as fans quickly discovered their new receiver's 14-letter last name can be conveniently shortened to a single syllable. Housh. The nickname caught on quickly Monday morning among the 1,500 fans attending the first of the 12 open practices at Seahawks headquarters. Fans shouted it after every pass caught by the marquee free agent Seattle signed in March. Housh. It's the sound of hope after a season in which Seattle's wide receiving corps was reduced to bare bones and torn"
Houshmandzadeh emerges from Ocho Cinco's shadow
March 4
Seattle Times
 columnist Jerry Brewer
"With Ocho Cinco no longer ego-bathing in the limelight, obstructing his stardom, T.J. Houshmandzadeh is free to absorb an appropriate share of attention - and pressure - as the newest high-dollar Seahawk. In case you're fretting the hype might make him squint too much to catch his usual 90 passes, listen here about how he feels to have his name on the marquee. "That doesn't bother me," the Seahawks' new No. 1 wide receiver said. "Front and center? You've got to play. It doesn't matter. Tell the video people here to get you the tape of our last couple of years, and you'll see who was getting the majority of the double teams. "I'm going to get that for you next time I see you, and you watch"
Top-rated receiver goes with Seahawks
March 3
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
 
"Ultimately, T.J. Houshmandzadeh's free-agent fling ended where it started -- with the Seahawks. Houshmandzadeh, who visited the Seahawks on Friday and Saturday, agreed Monday to a five-year, $40 million contract that includes $15 million in guarantees. The club will not comment on landing the top-rated wide receiver in this year's free-agent class until Houshmandzadeh has signed the contract. But the deal was confirmed by several sources, including his agent, Kennard McGuire, and Houshmandzadeh -- who explained his decision tothe Seahawks during an interview on ESPN. "I just felt like it was the best destination, it was the best team, it was the best choice for me," he said. Asked why, he"
Houshmandzadeh picks Seattle Seahawks over Vikings
March 3
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Despite a spirited effort, the Vikings' bid to land coveted free-agent receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was foiled by a familiar foe: the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks exacted revenge three years after the Vikings wrested Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson from them by including a "poison pill" in a seven-year, $49 million contract. The Vikings persuaded Houshmandzadeh to leave Seattle on Saturday, escorting him to Minnesota via private jet, and they wined and dined him during a 24-hour visit. But despite a strong push from the Vikings, Houshmandzadeh left Minnesota without signing a contract, and the Seahawks landed him Monday after reportedly increasing their offer. The National Football Post,"
T.J. Houshmandzadeh will sign with Seahawks
March 2
Seattle Times
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the top free-agent receiver, has agreed to sign with the Seahawks, according to ESPN. The five-year deal will pay Houshmandzadeh at least $15 million and as much as $40 million. Houshmandzadeh, 31, chose the Seahawks over Minnesota and re-signing with Cincinnati. Houshmandzadeh has caught more than 90 passes in three straight seasons. The Seahawks were led in receptions last season by rookie tight end John Carlson, who caught 55 passes."
Vikings continue to court receiver Houshmandzadeh; decision could come today
March 2
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"After he arrived on a private jet Saturday evening, T.J. Houshmandzadeh continued to be wined and dined by the Vikings on Sunday. Houshmandzadeh toured Winter Park, the team's headquarters, as well as parts of the Twin Cities, and he visited with Vikings players, coaches and staffers. Yet by Sunday night, the Vikings had not signed Houshmandzadeh, considered the top wide receiver available in free agency. "No decision tonight," agent Kennard McGuire said in a brief e-mail Sunday night. McGuire didn't elaborate. Although he told the Cincinnati Enquirer on Saturday that he planned to make a decision Sunday night, Houshmandzadeh apparently needed more time and wanted to speak to his wife,"
Seahawks make a deal, wait for word
March 2
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
 
"The Seahawks will have to wait until Monday morning for T.J. Houshmandzadeh's decision on his free-agent destination. As will the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals and everyone else interested in where the top-rated wide receiver in this year's free-agency class will land. Houshmandzadeh had planned toa team by Sunday night, but the decision was postponed, his agent, Kennard McGuire, said late Sunday. In the meantime, the Seahawks signed their top free-agent priority Sunday: Colin Cole, a 335-pound defensive tackle who played the previous five seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Not the big-name player Houshmandzadeh is, but the big-bodied player the Seahawks needed in the middle of"
Houshmandzadeh sleeps on his decision
March 2
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Vikings have made their pitch to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Now all they can do is wait. After meeting with team officials for 5 1/2 hours Sunday at Winter Park, the top wide receiver on the NFL's free-agent market told his agent he needed to sleep on his decision. He remained in the Twin Cities on Sunday night and presumably will make a decision today. The three-team race for Houshmandzadeh includes the Vikings, Bengals and Seahawks. The financial factor likely will play a significant role in his decision. Houshmandzadeh, who has spent his entire eight-year career with the Bengals, is believed to have received more lucrative offers from both Cincinnati and Seattle."
T.J. decision on hold
March 2
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh was determined to make a decision by Sunday night on his future. But after a five-plus hour meeting with the Vikings, that decision has been delayed until Monday according to his agent, Kennard McGuire. Houshmandzadeh is weighing offers from three teams - the Bengals, Vikings and Seahawks. After a meeting at Vikings' headquarters that lasted over five hours, he is in Minneapolis overnight. The Bengals have been in discussions with McGuire and have an offer on the table higher than the deals of Plaxico Burress (five years, $35 million with $11 million guaranteed) and Hines Ward (five years, $33 million). The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that the Vikings and"
T.J. decision close
March 1
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"T.J. Houshmandzadeh will know about his future by the end of the weekend. In a text message to The Enquirer, the Bengals' free agent wide receiver said he expects to make a decision "Sunday evening" about whether to remain in Cincinnati or go to a new team. The Bengals and Houshmandzadeh's agent, Kennard McGuire, have been in discussions over the last three days and the Bengals have an offer on the table. The Bengals' free agent wide receiver will visit Minnesota tonight after meeting with Seattle yesterday. He might also visit with the New York Giants, but that has not been confirmed. After a hectic first 36 hours of free agency, Houshmandzadeh is one of the big names remaining, along"
Sources: Houshmandzadeh to meet with Seattle
February 27
Foxsports.com
 
"Seattle could be addressing its need at wide receiver with Cincinnati free agent T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Two sources told FOXSports.com that Houshmandzadeh — one of the NFL's top receivers the past five seasons — is headed to Seattle today for a meeting with Seahawks officials. Houshmandzadeh has averaged 89 catches for 1,012 yards and seven touchdowns in five seasons as a Bengals starter. But he also will be 32 in September, which may scare some teams from offering the lucrative long-term contract Houshmandzadeh is seeking. The Seahawks failed to have a wide receiver crack the 500-yard mark in 2008 — the first time that had happened in a non-strike season since the franchise's inception in"
T.J. No. 1 target for Giants
February 25
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh of the Bengals is the top free agent on the New York Giants' wish list, according to The Sporting News. The NFL's free agency period begins Friday, when teams will start combing the market for players essential to their 2009 season. While Houshmandzadeh is a reliable receiver, TSN noted, "there is no way to find a comparable replacement to Plaxico Burress, as 6-5 receivers with speed and a huge wingspan are almost impossible to find. Burress faces a serious legal battle and possible jail time as a result of illegal gun charges.""
T.J. No. 1 target for Giants
February 25
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh of the Bengals is the top free agent on the New York Giants' wish list, according to The Sporting News The NFL's free agency period begins Friday, when teams will start combing the market for players essential to their 2009 season. While Houshmandzadeh is a reliable receiver, TSN noted, "there is no way to find a comparable replacement to Plaxico Burress, as 6-5 receivers with speed and a huge wingspan are almost impossible to find. Burress faces a serious legal battle and possible jail time as a result of illegal gun charges." Houshmandzadeh also is reportedly coveted by the Eagles, Ravens, Titans, 49ers, Dolphins and Seahawks."
Bengals franchise kicker Graham; will T.J. leave?
February 17
Dayton Daily News
 
"Welcome back Shayne Graham. Goodbye T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The Cincinnati Bengals tagged Graham as their franchise player on Monday, Feb. 16, clearing a path for Houshmandzadeh to bolt when the NFL's free agency period begins Feb. 27. The franchise tag gives Graham the option of signing with the Bengals for a one-year salary equal to the average of the five highest-paid kickers in the NFL last season. This year's price for a franchise kicker is $2.483 million, while the price for a franchise wide receiver is $9.884 million. The Bengals save $7.401 million by choosing Graham over Houshmandzadeh. "Shayne has consistently performed at a high level for us, and we expect that same performance in"
Bengals not likely to tag Houshmandzadeh
February 12
Dayton Daily News
 
"The dark cloud looming over the Cincinnati Bengals has continued to cast a shadow over the organization this offseason, and will likely do so until after free agency when some of the cloudiness is expected to clear. However, the forecast is calling for stormy conditions when the NFL's free agency period begins Feb. 27. The Bengals organization will be faced with some tough decisions during this time, but none tougher than deciding what to do with the team's brightest star wide receiver in T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who is set to hit the open market. The team's choices are indeed limited. It's either sign the receiver to a long-term deal before the deadline, place the franchise tag on the player"
Search high, not low, to elevate Eagles' wide-receiver corps
February 11
Philadelphia Daily News
 columnist Rich Hofmann
"T.J., I LOVE YOU.There is a part of me that really hopes the Eagles sign you, the part of me where I desperately need a column on a Wednesday afternoon in November and have no great ideas and then you show up at your locker and we all say "hello" and then you fill up our notebooks for the next 10 minutes, pretty much without taking a breath. You possess a great skill, that notebook-filling skill. It would be well worth the burden of having to type "Houshmandzadeh" on deadline for the next few years.But, T.J., I don't know. Maybe the next time you call Mike Missanelli, maybe you could stand on a box. Maybe then.They need somebody bigger than 6-1, which is 1 inch taller than Kevin Curtis,"