Hawks land Houshmandzadeh

[football junkie]

By John Clayton
ESPN.com

In what turned out to be a tougher decision than expected, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh chose the Seattle Seahawks over the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday afternoon.

Sources told ESPN's Michael Smith the deal was worth more than $40 million for five years, with more than $15 million guaranteed.

"I just felt it was the best destination, it was the best team, it was the best choice for me," Houshmandzadeh told ESPN.

Though he had hoped to make his decision Sunday, Houshmandzadeh, pressured by Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer to stay in Cincinnati and by the Vikings to stay around the Minneapolis area during a visit, escaped from a Minneapolis hotel Sunday night, flew to Los Angeles and spent Monday morning trying to make up his mind. He weighed offers from three teams, along with their quarterbacks and the teams' chances of winning.

The final decision was Seattle.

The 31-year-old Houshmandzadeh was considered the wide receiver prize of free agency. He caught a combined 204 passes for 2,043 yards and 16 touchdowns over the past two seasons in Cincinnati. The 6-foot-1, 189-pound receiver had a 90-catch season in 2006. He tied for the NFL receptions lead in 2007 with 112 catches and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

His departure in Cincinnati could mean Chad Johnson might have to stay in Cincinnati for another season. Johnson tried to get traded from the Bengals before the 2008 season.

[football junkie]

I think it's a little risky to give a wide out on the wrong side of 31 a five year contract for $40 million, although "only" $15 million is guaranteed.

T.J. certainly gives Hasselback a legit target besides John Carlson. He should contribute immediately but I won't be surprised if he's cut within two seasons.

[CCN]

They're saying the Bengals offered 5 years/$35 Million. I'm not sure how much involved was up-front or guaranteed.

They knew this would well happen when they didn't franchise him. Hopefully this will lead to the drafting of three wideouts last year as a smart move.

[Seattle1]

Personally, I am not that worried about his age.

A lot of wideouts play well into their late 30s, and Housh has always been healthy his whole career. He seems like one of those guys so far. Unless an unforeseen career-ending injury occurs out of the blue I think we'll be ok in that department for the full five years even.

The thing for me is that I don't know that it is as great a signing as all the hype has made it out to be. Sure he will be a solid possession receiver, but he is not a deep threat. His longest reception almost every year is only in the 40s. Larry Fitzgerald he ain't.

But, with Bobby Engram getting up there in age (and I really hope he remains a Seahawk for at least one more season), Housh can be that go-to 3rd down specialist for many years after Engram is gone.

:twocents: