T.J. . .Who?

by Gonzo on Mar 2, 2009 6:39 PM CST in Vikings Comment 35 comments

Well, after a few days of getting V.I.P. treatment around the Twin Cities, WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh showed where his priorities lie, as he signed with the Seattle Seahawks. Per numerous sources, the contract is a five-year deal worth $40 million, with $15 million of that guaranteed. At right around this time last season, the Vikings were signing Bernard Berrian to a six-year, $42 million deal with $16 million guaranteed.

It appears that, similar to the last time that the Vikings and Seahawks crossed paths in the off-season. . .which saw the Seahawks basically swap the best guard in the NFL (Steve Hutchinson) and a third-round pick for a glorified #3/4 wide receiver (Nate Burleson). . .it appears that the Vikings got the better deal.

Don't get me wrong. . .Houshmandzadeh would have been a nice get for the Vikings. But the guy had to have become less and less endearing to Minnesota fans the longer he hung out in Minneapolis with his thumb firmly lodged in his rear end. He showed that he was, contrary to my prior belief, a bit of a diva, with his "rolling deadline" for announcing his intentions. In the end, he decided that a few million extra dollars was more important than signing with a team on which he could have been a major piece to a championship puzzle.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh isn't the first player in NFL history to choose money over winning, and he won't be the last guy to make that choice. And, now, the Vikings will move on and set about the business of continuing to make their team better. Our long ~~national~~ regional nightmare is over. And when the Seahawks come to Minneapolis this season and Houshmandzadeh spends four quarters getting pimp-slapped around the Dome by Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin, maybe the light will come on for him. Not that we'll care by that point.

Just remember, folks. . .it's still early. Last year, many folks (including myself) were miffed that we hadn't done anything of significance to aid our pass rush. And then, on 23 April 2008, something changed. Will something similar happen this season? I don't know, you don't know, we don't know. . .but if the Vikings have taught me anything over the past couple of years, it's that they're damn sure going to try.

This battle has been lost, my friends. . .the war, on the other hand, continues on. Enjoy the rest of your Monday night! I know I will be. . .having this thing settled means that I can watch Jack Bauer break things and kill people on 24 for two hours tonight without having to worry that I've missed anything.

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Well, Hutchinson joined the Vikings from the NFC Champions

We mustn’t forget Housh went to Oregon State, so he’s close to where he spent his years turning into an awesome receiver.

I don’t see this as the end of the world, although it can be looked upon as a missed opportunity…..and it is the NFL, money (and incentives) is everything.

As I mentioned in the other thread as a half-joke, Housh just left Cincy, a franchise that has no hope of doing anything significant for years to come. Do you really think TJ Houshmandzadeh would want to have 3 unproven QBs and a coach who isn’t the brightest bulb in the world leading him? Or a coach in Jim Mora who was one win away from making the Super Bowl in his first year at the helm and a Pro Bowl QB in Matt Hasselbeck and a solid backup in Seneca Wallace?

Sorry you lost him, but right now I’m enjoying the moment. Good luck in the rest of the offseason!

My theory on why Andy Reid doesn't like running the football.

When Andy Reid was 6, his parents wanted him to lose some weight and always asked him to go to the park and run, Annoyed, Andy said "No I'll pass".

by SSreporters on Mar 2, 2009 6:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeo

Yeah, Matt Hasselbeck may be a pro bowl QB, but don’t expect him to ever play like one again with that shoulder of his. TJ will be raking in millions for having Seneca zing passes that are off target for years to come.

Take heart Vikings fans, there are still a few free agents worth a few bucks out there. Laveranues Coles being one of them, and Chris Carr could be a nice addition too. I still like how Spielman operates and I have no doubt that they are following a few names closely.

by NYCVike on Mar 2, 2009 7:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Except for the part where Seneca had thrown nearly 200 passes in a row without an INT last season

Hass has a shoulder injury.

Chris Carr is an underrated player, I think it would be worth going after him, dumping Hicks and going forward on kick and punt returns again.

My theory on why Andy Reid doesn't like running the football.

When Andy Reid was 6, his parents wanted him to lose some weight and always asked him to go to the park and run, Annoyed, Andy said "No I'll pass".

by SSreporters on Mar 2, 2009 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Seneca pass to Houshmandzadeh"

What an awesomely named duo. Rolls off the tongue, really.

by Ezzra on Mar 2, 2009 8:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Can't get down on Housh

Seattle is closer to his hometown than any of the other options. I wish the guy would have came here but I understand his decision. To start calling him names like prima donna and stuff just makes Viking fans sound like sore losers. I think 5 years may have been too long but he is the kind of reciever that could still produce well late in his career. I’d be interested to see the difference between this contract and the one the Vikings offered. I only heard the Vikes offered 3 years so I have to believe the Seattle offer is a much better offer years and money wise.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Mar 2, 2009 7:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

At 32 and when you’ve been with the cheap Bengals for years you’ve got to make hay while the sun shines. I think he would have been what the doctor ordered for the Vikings pass offense (a good slot guy who can turn a short slant or hitch into 20 yds.), the longer term deal was dicey as receivers at this age can hit a wall pretty fast. This is the year that Sidney Rice needs to decide whether he’s going to work hard enough to be a top drawer WR.

by VikingBillArlingtonVA on Mar 3, 2009 9:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ReSign Birk!!

That should be our Number 1Priority.

by Tony_O on Mar 2, 2009 7:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Birk is great....but

How many years does he have left in the tank? He is an 11 year pro, but even the great Randall McDaniel started to fade at the end. Maybe 2 more years at most on Birk, see how he does and in a way if he does start fading fast, won’t hurt us alot to either try trading him or cutting him. I would like to keep Birk, but procede with caution as well.

"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk"

by VikesFaninNM on Mar 2, 2009 7:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Money Money Money

That’s the reality…Housh chose money over a championship caliber team. Seattle is far from that right now with no running game, an ailing QB, and ??? at WR outside of Housh…expect constant double teams for him and a .500 season at best.

by dougvikes on Mar 2, 2009 8:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You know, the Dolphins and Falcons finished a combined 5-27 2 seasons ago....

My theory on why Andy Reid doesn't like running the football.

When Andy Reid was 6, his parents wanted him to lose some weight and always asked him to go to the park and run, Annoyed, Andy said "No I'll pass".

by SSreporters on Mar 2, 2009 8:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Raiders and Lions finished 5-27 three seasons ago. What’s your point?

I know, injuries completely dismantled the Seahawks this season. I actually root for them, I like Hasselbeck, but going 4-12 really isn’t a good indication of things to come. Obviously the team lacks quality depth all over the place.

And the difference between the Falcons and Dolphins and the Seahawks this year is that they upgraded their QB position and actually had pretty good running games. It’ll be hard to upgrade Hasselbeck, but that run game of Seattle’s definitely needs some work.

by Frost on Mar 2, 2009 8:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm curious to see what Greg Knapp does to that running game

by Ezzra on Mar 2, 2009 8:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but you know the Raiders and Lions have no hope! That's why yhey're special.

My theory on why Andy Reid doesn't like running the football.

When Andy Reid was 6, his parents wanted him to lose some weight and always asked him to go to the park and run, Annoyed, Andy said "No I'll pass".

by SSreporters on Mar 3, 2009 9:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong.

Seattle averaged 4.2 yards a run last year and finished 19th in rushing. That was against teams that were stacking against the run due to the fact that with the exception of Wallace’s last 4 games we were either starting an injured QB or Charlie Frye. The problem was that we already had a coach that loves to pass, and we would often be playing from behind so we’d abandon the run pretty early. Also, our new OC Greg Knapp in 8 years as an OC, has never finished outside the top 10 in team rushing. In 7 of those years he finished in the top 6, including 3 times with the number 1 rushing offense.

His QBs in that time included Garcia (with whom his passing offenses were ranked 14th, 14th, and 10th) and then Vick and Jamarcus Russell who were both pretty bad when it came to the passing game. Before his injury last year, Hasselbeck was coming off a season where he threw just under 4,000 yards and 28 TDs. With Matt being healthy and adding TJ, that is going to fix the passing offense, and the running game will improve even more with the passing game to support it.

by Mind of no mind on Mar 3, 2009 9:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think his point was that the running games of Miami and Atlanta were good, even in their bad years

and then were upgraded to great. The Seahawk’s running game was really bad. Yeah, you highlighted the best case scenario, but it’s hard to be realistic in saying a turnaround is going to happen based on a new OC and a supposedly healthy QB.

Frost is highlighting the fact that the 2008 Seahawks and the 2007 Falcons/Dolphins really don’t have much in common.

by Ezzra on Mar 4, 2009 1:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They might only need a .500 season to reach the playoffs...

by Ezzra on Mar 2, 2009 8:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Can we send him the bill for all the wining and dining?

Thanks for making me set the refresh clicking history!

by 986guy on Mar 2, 2009 9:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

What's Next

We wasted a whole weekend with Doushmandsadeh now most of the other receivers on the radar have disappeared…ex. Washington, Clayton, Bryant. Should we really bail on the most important need a rt tackle in the draft and get Maclin or somebody else or should we settle for a reduced price vet who probably won’t last longer than a couple years.

by alldayson28 on Mar 2, 2009 9:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

What's next is this.

You go for Henderson 1st, then Coles second. After that, not much else unless we get a decent QB. Cutler is still P.O.‘d but like Housh, won’t get excited unless it’s signed on the dotted line.

"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk"

by VikesFaninNM on Mar 2, 2009 9:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

At least

I got to watch 24 Jack Bauer’s awesomeness kept me from being depressed about Housh

by cutlassbob on Mar 2, 2009 9:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't get so down on him...

He lives on the west coast, went to school on the west coast, they have a better QB situation, are in a weaker division (debatable, I know, but humor me), and yes, more money. He also has a wife with her own opinions and desires and such. I’m willing to say, “Ah, what could have been. Oh well, good luck in Seattle. But not too much, since I don’t really like the Seahawks.”

In AP I trust

by FarvaForTheVikings on Mar 2, 2009 9:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

This. It’s not like he’s thumbing his nose to the organization.

by mjschaefer on Mar 2, 2009 9:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't even want those grapes

They’re probably sour anyway…

"The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you."

- David Foster Wallace R.I.P.

by phil26687 on Mar 2, 2009 10:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

A lecture on sour grapes

From someone whose fellow fans are still whining about Super Bowl XL.

That’s precious.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Mar 3, 2009 5:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the kick in the balls.

It’s funny that the only time I see that come up on any forum anymore, is either when Steelers fans taunt us, or when other teams use it as a low blow.

by Mind of no mind on Mar 3, 2009 9:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's completely irrelevant to the issue at hand.

This is indeed an excellent example of sour grapes.

by redwolf75 on Mar 4, 2009 12:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You know what was awesome? The Herschel Walker trade...

And that’s why irrelevant comments shouldn’t be used as insults. Doesn’t help anyone and only stirs up bitterness.

by Ezzra on Mar 4, 2009 1:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Bitterness

Well damn, Ezzra, we are kinda bitter about being Houshed, lol! It’s still pretty recent, so it’s still a wee bit tender. We’re mostly over it now and by next week you wouldn’t even know it happened :)

Losing Super Bowls, now that’s something Viking fans are accustomed to, no big deal, heh. The Walker thing, though… that kinda trauma never quite goes away…

Good luck to the Seahawks, and congrats on landing the guy, I hope he pans out for you.

by DCPurple on Mar 4, 2009 8:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs