Seahawks Unlikely to Sign TJ Houshmandzadeh

by John Morgan on Feb 28, 2009 11:52 AM PST

(Requisite copy editor joke*)

Houshmandzadeh is leaving the Emerald City thirty million lighter than he wanted, ten million lighter than he deserves. I loved Houshmandzadeh from a talent and production standpoint, but there are legitimate concerns about if Seattle needs him. As I've pointed out before, the post-Matt Hasselbeck passing offense was actually quite good. Seneca Wallace placed 19^th in passing DVOA, sandwiched between Jason Campbell and Matt Cassel. Was Seneca Wallace that good? No. Was Seattle's passing offense that good? No. But between the talent on field and the potential of a healthy Hasselbeck (and everything depends on that), Seattle's passing offense could easily be that and more. Houshmandzadeh is approaching 32 and if I'm not terribly concerned his performance will falter, it would be foolish not to be concerned his health will falter. Nevertheless, TJ was one of a small handful of truly attractive free agents and the last available that could provide immediate, season changing returns. So it's disappointing, but at ten mil per, absolutely necessary.

*How hard is it to program your spell check to recognize "Houshmandzadeh"?

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Sunday

According to Bengals.com

The Bengals are still talking to wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Houshmandzadeh is talking to other teams. He says all the talking is going to end by Sunday night because that’s when he anticipates making a decision.

by Misfit74 on Feb 28, 2009 12:17 PM PST reply actions

I'm pretty sure

he’ll sign with Minnesota before that.

by John Morgan on Feb 28, 2009 12:19 PM PST up reply actions

Last piece of so-called 'championship puzzle' in thier minds?

by Misfit74 on Feb 28, 2009 12:20 PM PST up reply actions

Yep

They keep making that move and maybe they’re right. Their window is now.

by John Morgan on Feb 28, 2009 12:21 PM PST up reply actions

but who's throwing to him?

sage rosenfels? tavaris jackson?

the vikings are like a science experiment: “what happens if we build a totally kick ass team but try to find our quarterback through journeymen free agents and mid round draft picks.”

by cro-mag! on Feb 28, 2009 12:59 PM PST up reply actions

Jeff Garcia!

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Feb 28, 2009 2:03 PM PST up reply actions

yeah

Minnesota is probably willing to overpay him.

by SoCalHawksFan on Feb 28, 2009 12:22 PM PST reply actions

^supposed to be a reply to misfit

by SoCalHawksFan on Feb 28, 2009 12:24 PM PST up reply actions

10 mil a year? Really?

I know he’s pretty decent and had a chance to be pretty good for us, but 10 mil a year for a guy on the wrong side of 30, declining numbers every year (although some of that is from a overall declining offense), and someone who’s at best a #2 receiver? That just sounds crazy to me. What is his agent telling him?

by Fear on Feb 28, 2009 1:11 PM PST reply actions

I just re-read your post and your link

and I don’t know where I got the 10 mil a year. But still, 30 mil would have to be a pretty high per year salary and pretty long term (for a guy who’s almost 32, not likely to happen).

by Fear on Feb 28, 2009 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

You're right

He wants ten million a season.

by John Morgan on Feb 28, 2009 1:15 PM PST up reply actions

Do not want.

If we sign TJ for 10 mil a season, I will go ballistic.

by djafrot on Feb 28, 2009 1:25 PM PST up reply actions

no way.

If we do sign him, it sure as hell won’t be for 10 mil a season.

by SoCalHawksFan on Feb 28, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions

At best he can be a serviceable #1 WR.

At worst he’ll be slightly worse that what he is right now, one of the best #2 WRs in the league.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Feb 28, 2009 2:04 PM PST up reply actions

I was very high

on Housh that is, but $10 mil does sound rich. His stats are awesome, but as pointed out above, could be on the decline soon due simply to age and losing a step. I’d rather we grab Crabtree at 4 (even though he’ll cost more) or Robiskie in the 2nd.

by diehard82 on Feb 28, 2009 3:31 PM PST reply actions

Crabtree won't cost 10 million a year, will he?

Even so, I’d rather have him than TJ, hellsa more upside.

by djafrot on Feb 28, 2009 4:34 PM PST up reply actions

Almost.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Feb 28, 2009 6:15 PM PST up reply actions

Not sure how that article supports the "unlikely to sign" assertion, other than that he is visiting the Vikings, which we already knew.

If anything, the other story from the same publication makes Seattle’s chances seem a bit better:

Standout free-agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh told the Cincinnati Bengals’ team Web site today that he expects to make a decision on his future by Sunday night. … He declined to discuss whether there are other teams he is interested in, confirming only the Bengals, Seahawks and Vikings. …

He said his free-agent visit with the Seahawks went well.

“Training camp right on the lake,” Houshmandzadeh said. “And they’re a team that has had a lot of success. They had a down year last year (4-12) but they had a bunch of injuries.”

I agree that Minnesota seems likely to offer him a bigger contract, especially considering the history between the two franchises. Housh does seem to have targeted Seattle himself. Let’s see if the VMAC and Mora’s enthusiasm have any effect.

by lemonverbena on Feb 28, 2009 5:28 PM PST reply actions