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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > March > 02 > Entry
T.J. ‘Who’sYourMama?’ The Seahawks, that’s who, as Bengal bolts to NFC West
HOUSHMANDZADEH SEES GREEN,
LURED TO SEATTLE BY $40 MILLION
AGENT CLAIMS T.J. ‘AGONIZED DAILY;’
HE’S LAUGHING ON WAY TO THE BANK
I kept waiting for a puff of white smoke from the chimney at Paul Brown Stadium on Monday, March 2 — a sign that wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh had re-signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
It never came.
Houshmandzadeh’s eight-year run with the Bengals ended when he agreed to terms with the Seattle Seahawks on a five-year deal that will make a rich man even more wealthy.
The Bengals will attempt to regroup by bringing New York Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles to Cincinnati for a visit on Tuesday — the same Laveranues Coles who got Peter Warrick in trouble during their days at Florida State.
The Bengals reportedly offered Houshmandzadeh a more-than-fair, four-year $28 contract. But the bigger dollars won out.
According to ESPN, T.J. got the $8 million-per-year (for five years) that he wanted, and it came from Seattle — a $40 million blockbuster deal that includes $15 million in signing bonus and guarantees.
“It was very, very difficult for him,” agent Kennard McGuire told bengals.com, the Bengals’ club-owned Web site. “He agonized daily over this in every regard. He’s very thankful for all the time he spent in Cincinnati.”
I’m eager to see and hear how the Seahawks will react when T.J. begs out of practice at training camp. They’ll have to be patient when he lands in the tub with tender hamstrings.
Does this mean the Bengals will draft Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree or Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin? Probably … but stay tuned.
For more on the story, go to:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2008803771_hawk03.html
Permalink | Comments (42) | Post your comment | Categories: T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Comments
By Brian
March 2, 2009 7:39 PM | Link to this
This has to be the bleakest off-season in recent memory and THAT’S saying something. 0-16 here we come.By Ron
March 2, 2009 7:46 PM | Link to this
I feel happy for T.J., he is going to finally play for a winner. The Bengals have bigger problems to worry about than T.J. Chad Johnson will be livid that Mike Brown is ruining his finances. T.J. know makes more than Chad. This is simple, MB refused to pay T.J. more than Chad period even though Carson wanted Chad gone. If T.J. had been resigned Chad would have been gone. MB overruled Palmer. It’s going to be interesting because Palmer and Chad don’t get along at all. Carson Palmer will languish in a black hole for the rest of his life. He should never have re-signed with Cincy in the first place.By Troy
March 2, 2009 7:47 PM | Link to this
Thanks TJ you were all about the BJF’S we will see how he fits in west. He hates the off season and trainingcamp! It does not bother me hes gone.By photoman
March 2, 2009 8:11 PM | Link to this
No, I’m glad he is gone too. Now he can get his money, but I doubt he will have any more personal on the field successes like he did with CP. The Bengals can finish in third or fourth place in their division even without him.By jim m.
March 2, 2009 8:20 PM | Link to this
Yep.. that Mike Brown fella sure knows how to run a team.. lol.. im glad this stuff doesn’t tick me off like it use too.. now i just laugh!! I cant wait to see Carson’s agent asking for a trade out of here.. ohh by then Mike the Redeemer can sign Michael Vick!! i follow the Colts till the Brown family either sells, or looses so many season tickets they are forced to change things.. till then, my money wont go near that stadium!!By ShockMonkey
March 2, 2009 8:28 PM | Link to this
I blame Mike Brown for many of our failures and stupidity but this wasn’t one of them. TJ’s 31 and he gets a five year deal! $15 mil is guaranteed fellas. Besides, he’s a Pac NW dude. No harm here. We’ll replace him.By Yeah Right
March 2, 2009 8:50 PM | Link to this
Yeah, I’m sure he agonized … over which pen to use to sign that contract. He wanted out, just like Chad. I wish the Bengals had kept him; but nobody wants to play for a losing team.By Redskinatheart
March 2, 2009 9:42 PM | Link to this
Good for T.J.! Let’s see…the Bengals were 4-11-1 with him…I don’t think he was their savior. They have a lot of places to plug in those millions of dollars that will have more of an impact than T.J. would have. Now we get to see who wants it and who can play. Go Bengals!By psychostats
March 2, 2009 9:42 PM | Link to this
If the Bengals draft a wide receiver with their first pick, it would be yet another spectacular display of ineptitude. Not that that should surprise anyone, but they really need to focus on linemen first. If not on offense, then on defense.By Redskinatheart
March 2, 2009 9:44 PM | Link to this
Ron are you that fly on the wall down at PBS? You seem to have a lot of insider information!By Roski
March 2, 2009 9:49 PM | Link to this
As a lifelong Seahawks and Pac-10 fan, this seems like alot of $$ for a 31-yr. old no. 2 receiver; a contract simular to another recent Seahawks’ signee… Deion Branch.By whodee
March 2, 2009 9:53 PM | Link to this
I don’t blame TJ for leaving - it’s going to be like this until Mike Brown FINALLY retires!By whodee
March 2, 2009 9:53 PM | Link to this
I don’t blame TJ for leaving - it’s going to be like this until Mike Brown FINALLY retires!By Meshnutt
March 2, 2009 10:47 PM | Link to this
Good ridence!! Ocho can go too! Not enough room for 2 cry babies. We have the talent and speed in our young recievers. ML just needs to let them play. MB did screw up by letting Ward get out of town & not signing him.By Mike
March 2, 2009 10:48 PM | Link to this
TJ is a smart man. The money is good and at least he mught have a chance of winning in Seattle which will never happen under Mike Brown.By coach
March 2, 2009 10:53 PM | Link to this
TJ’s best days are behind him, now that he has his big $$ performance will fall off. Seahawks are fools with their money. Get Chad back in the game and develop the receivers drafted last year…..maybe this will force the Bengals to incorporate the TE’s and running game back into the offense.By cincy anon
March 2, 2009 11:12 PM | Link to this
The guy always showed up ready to play and in shape, and always took the tough shot across the middle after catching the ball and without giving it up so I’m at a loss why people are upset. Was the Bengal’s deal big money? Yeah but it wasn’t competitive enough in the NFL for the Bengal’s to keep him. I thank him for his game and play, and wish him luck.By Ron Jeremy
March 2, 2009 11:18 PM | Link to this
THat cry baby got Andy Furhman fired from WLW. I’m glad he is gone. Good luck being a pro bowler with Hasselback throwing to youBy TP
March 2, 2009 11:31 PM | Link to this
They need to take that money and sign Ray Lewis. He would be invaluable in the locker room and give our defense confidence and instant credibility.Build defense first.By Mike
March 2, 2009 11:48 PM | Link to this
What free agent would honestly want to play for the Bengals? Just listened to C. Trent Rosecrans. He thinks a lot of guys wont come here because of Mike Brown.By jim m.
March 3, 2009 12:00 AM | Link to this
Your right Mike.. the Bengals will be shut out of the free agents and 0-16 is on the way.. i hope that happens so mike sells or makes changes that has been needed for 18 years!!! if not? those that keep feeding him money for tickets get what they deserve. Mike Brown will NEVER get a dime of my money for tickets!!By photoman
March 3, 2009 12:25 AM | Link to this
Being a Bengals fan is like having a pet with a bad leg. Ya love him and ya wish him the best, but you don’t expect him to do too to much.By photoman
March 3, 2009 12:26 AM | Link to this
Being a Bengals fan is like having a pet with a bad leg. Ya love him and ya wish him the best, but you don’t expect him to do too much.By photoman
March 3, 2009 12:35 AM | Link to this
(Our Chickster wrote)… “I kept waiting for a puff of white smoke from the chimney at Paul Brown Stadium on Monday, March 2 — a sign that wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh had re-signed with the Cincinnati Bengals”. Pope MB couldn’t find a match in time to light the fire for the white smoke. TJ was already signed by Seattle “slew”.By photoman
March 3, 2009 1:23 AM | Link to this
Chickster, here’s one for you. Picture MB on guitar singing to TJH AKA Stevie Nicks.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE7sGbnbqxkBy suaz
March 3, 2009 2:30 AM | Link to this
Just as the CIA patiently waits Castro to croak, so do us “who-dey” fans with PB. Why is it that every time you have a great leader, their son turns out to be a “bone-head”. Don’t believe me? Just look at G.W..By ocho cinco
March 3, 2009 3:10 AM | Link to this
My bro is gone, and I’m left holding the bag. This team stinks, the owner stinks, and the fans stink. I’ve never played before such hicks. Get me outa here Drew!!!By flyerfan68
March 3, 2009 5:53 AM | Link to this
I HAVE HAD SEATS IN PBS SINCE IT OPENED…I AGREE WITH OCHO… CINCINNATI STINKS IN ALL WAYS, AND I SHOULD MOVE BACK TO DAYTON!By maalbri
March 3, 2009 6:57 AM | Link to this
What’s funny is that people are saying that T.J. does not want to play for a losing team; did you guys look at Seattle record last year. It would have been dumb for the Bengals to guarantee that much money to T.J. when they have big holes in other positions on the team. Signing T.J. and Carson coming back would not have transformed us back to the 2005 team, we were struggling in 2007 with that offense. It was time to break it up in my opinion and start over with something fresh, yes I wish they would have gotten rid of Chad instead of T.J. but hey.By Marv
March 3, 2009 7:39 AM | Link to this
Thing’s won’t change with the Bengals until Mike Brown gets hit where it hurts, his wallet! People need to quit talking about it and finally NOT BUY TICKETS to Bengals games. How ‘bout them Colts?By WhoDeyRevolution.com
March 3, 2009 8:04 AM | Link to this
Goodbye Touraj….. The news had been back and forth all day (and all weekend before that) regarding who was in the lead between the Bengals, the Seahawks and the Vikings. As I write this, PFT indicates that the contract is for 5 years and $40 million with $15 million guaranteed. 5 years is a long time for a Wide Reciever who will be 32 years old. While it seems we tried to throw a good chunk of money at T.J., in the end, it didn’t appear to be enough. It’s tough to argue with the Bengals efforts to re-sign him in this individual instance but after this, free agency, as a whole, is proving yet again to be another unmitigated disaster. Close but no cigar. And the offseason personnel scorecard currently has us losing a starting Offensive Tackle and our best Wide Receiver. We’ve only re-signed Chris Crocker and a collective turd Darryl Blackstock, Dede Dorsey and Orien Harris. We have signed the following new players…… None…….. The Offseason Equation is as follows:……. (4-11-1 record) minus (T.J Houshmandzadeh and Stacy Andrews) + (No One New) = Not GoodBy Minor League
March 3, 2009 8:10 AM | Link to this
Congrats TJ! It will be a huge difference to experience a professionally run NFL team. Heck, Cedric Benson would rather be a backup in Houston than to play for this joke of a franchise. Bengals to LA in 2011…please.By Minor League
March 3, 2009 8:15 AM | Link to this
Congrats TJ! It will be a huge difference to experience a professionally run NFL team. Heck, Cedric Benson would rather be a backup in Houston than to play for this joke of a franchise. Bengals to LA in 2011…please.By trenches
March 3, 2009 8:28 AM | Link to this
We need to concentrate on lineman!! Both sides of our line needs help. This is the basic fundamentals of football. If you have a line,the rest will fall into place. Look around the league. Those with the true warriors in the trenches get it done every year!! Mike Brown get lineman asap! TJ was great but not going to get any better or take us to the promise land.By Mike M
March 3, 2009 9:42 AM | Link to this
The Bengals record well be better with out him! He was getting to be a premadona never showing up for voluntary mini camps, because he said that he was under payed, no one was twisting his arm when he signed his contract 4 years ago! So TJ GOOD REDENS be a man and honor the contract that you signed this time! Good luck Seattle you paid him way to much so he is your CRY BABY now!By John
March 3, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this
I don’t mind TJ leaving as we can use the money elswhere. He said he knew in Sat. that he was not comming back. Why did he wait and make us lose 2 critical FA signing days? All in all he gave the Bengals and us the finger and demonstrated minimal class and unveiled his ego by relishing his day as center of attention. Goodbye and good riddance.By Drew
March 3, 2009 12:31 PM | Link to this
See ya TJ. I didn’t expect the Bengals to sign you. Why would anyone think that Mike Brown would make a good business decision to keep TJ. Brown continues to be sidelined by free agents, letting his finger remain in his @ss. 3-13 this upcoming season and Palmer is on IR by the third game.By BnOPanther
March 3, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this
All the Bengals did was respect his wishes and give a 7th round pick a chance to succeed. They didn’t franchise him. They let him test the open market. Then they offered a fair deal. What else do you want? TJ proved it was all about the money, afterall the Hawks had a worse record last year. I say see you later. Give me Laverneous Coles, CJ, Henry, and Caldwell.By flipper
March 3, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this
Poor Baby. He gets all that money to go somewhere else and be mediocre. The dough will soothe the move.By ScoFo
March 3, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this
As long as the Brown family runs the Bengals they’ll never have a winner.I feel bad for Cincinnati and the fans who follow the Bengals.By Yippee
March 3, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this
I guess this opens up a roster spot opportunity for Jeff Query to come back…By Boxter
March 3, 2009 3:20 PM | Link to this
Why wouldn’t anyone leave this team? I wish him well and everyone else on this God forsaken team to get out when they can. Palmer should get the hell out of there also.