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The phrase "low-ball offer" is why T.J. Houshmandzadeh didn't sign with the Cincinnati Bengals

It was painfully obvious this season that the Cincinnati Bengals passing game missed T.J. Houshmandzadeh. His ability to read defenses, find gaps in the coverage gave Carson Palmer an automatic option on every pass. Houshmandzadeh was always open; either underneath on hook patterns or his patent zigzag patterns roughly at the first down marker.

When he signed with the Seattle Seahawks, earning a $40 million deal over five years with $15 million guaranteed, the Bengals found themselves with the tall order of replacing Houshmandzadeh's contributions. The hope was that Laveranues Coles and Andre Caldwell would combine, not to just make up for what Houshmandzadeh did, but to achieve much more with Caldwell showing enough promise that he could run the routes with the field awareness that Houshmandzadeh had.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh's last four seasons
Season Team Rec. Yards Avg. TDs
2009 Seattle 79 911 11.5 3
2008 Cincinnati 92 904 9.8 4
2007 Cincinnati 112 1,143 10.2 12
2006 Cincinnati 90 1,081 12.0 9

In a very real sense, Coles and Caldwell replicated Houshmandzadeh's average during the last three seasons he was with Cincinnati -- the best three-game stretch in T.J.'s career -- as shown in the following chart.

  Rec. Yards Avg. TDs 1st Downs
Houshmandzadeh 98 1,043 10.6 8 60
Caldwell/Coles 94 946 10.1 8 58

Other than the argument that Carson Palmer needs help from his receivers if this passing game is to ever get off the ground again, comparisons involving T.J. Houshmandzadeh are pointless. So why bring it up?

Because Houshmandzadeh is talking about it, writes Chick Ludwig.

Houshmandzadeh, who spurned the Bengals and Vikings in favor of Seattle, told ESPN’s Doug Gottlieb this week that he let his personal feelings get in the way of a business decision.

Houshmandzadeh insinuated that negotiations opened with a low-ball offer from Bengals’ management. He claimed that by the time the Bengals came around with the kind of money he wanted, it was simply too late. He had already taken what he called a “screw-it mentality” and signed with the team — Seattle — that showed him the most love.

Houshmandzadeh admitted that on the surface, his decision doesn’t look like the best one. The Bengals won the AFC North while the Vikings are a win away from the Super Bowl. He then said to give it time and everything could turn out right.

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Low-ball offers are always a “penny wise, pound foolish” sort of decision. In the short term, they seem to pay off. In the long run you might as well have stuck a barb-wire coated fence pole up your own butt because you are seriously hurting yourself. No employee who feels low-balled is ever going to be loyal, happy, or as productive as he could have been… assuming he even comes/stays in the first place!

by FriarBob on Jan 22, 2010 10:27 AM EST reply actions  

Was he really worth the money?

Based on his production this year, I think that Housh was mostly a beneficiary of a strong offense and being opposite Chad and Henry. He wanted #1 receiver money, but he’s not a #1 type player.

This is our year!

by Paul Cannon on Jan 22, 2010 10:44 AM EST reply actions  

just from a Bills fan perspective...

This reminds me alot of Peerless Price in his good years with Buffalo. He left via free agency to pursue #1 money. When he clearly benefited from playing opposite of Moulds (Ochocinco). Should have stayed in Buffalo and continued what they had there. But he left, as TJ did… and hindsight would say the choice to stay would have been the better one. Ive thought this since TJ went to Seattle, and seeing this story I just thought I would share that.

"Be a wuss at home! Be a man on Rumblings!" - Kurupt

by bflo on Jan 22, 2010 10:56 AM EST up reply actions  

In Seattle, he’s not. Here, he would have been (or at least close to it) because he would both produce and help free up Chad to produce.

Then again, we’re also judging him off a year when he had no quarterback at all. Last year at least he didn’t have much, but he had something which is always better than nothing. If they get a decent QB next year, he might prove us all wrong.

by FriarBob on Jan 22, 2010 11:55 AM EST up reply actions  

Agreed

After watching TJ play in the NFC West this past season it is clear to me that he benefited by playing with Carson and opposite Ochocinco. He’s a terrific route runner but needs strong QB play more than most to be a game changer (at ProBowl level.) I don’t think TJ is dynamic enough to be a #1.

by Cardsfan81 on Jan 25, 2010 7:01 PM EST up reply actions  

TJ is full of it

So the Bengals offered him market value when it had been set but he didn’t want to take it…. but it wasn’t personal. why doens’t he just be honest and say he wanted to be the big guy on another team and he felt he wanted to leave to push himself to see if he really was a no.1 WR

Thats admirable, but changing the story every two months isn’t. If the Seahawks start off strong next year i fully expect him to pop -off about how clever he was to get away.

The fact is, Brown offered him the same deal. It wasn’t too late because he hadn’t signed any peice of paper. It was too late because TJ had made his mind up to leave

by Sheffieldbengal on Jan 22, 2010 11:58 AM EST reply actions  

Sorry, Josh. I don't buy that Coles and Caldwell have replaced TJ's production.

For a few reasons.

1) TJ made Chad a lot better.
2) Opposing secondaries devoted more resources to TJ.
3) TJ is one man, Coles and Caldwell are 2.
4) Caldwell+TJ+Chad >>> Caldwell+Coles+Chad

by jsl413 on Jan 22, 2010 1:22 PM EST reply actions  

WHY does anybody still CARE about this cat???? FORWARD, men!!!!

by TheWalrus1971 on Jan 22, 2010 2:30 PM EST reply actions  

TJ, while your years in Cincy were good

You are dead to me

Slim 15, you will be missed. RIP Chris Henry

by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Jan 23, 2010 8:44 PM EST reply actions  

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