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Everyone else is fighting for a job. Me and Chad (Johnson)

Kazkal

By Kazkal
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Kazkal Newbie

Kazkal

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Hmmm not sure how to take this,maybe he's mad because he wanted the current wrs on the team to get a chance?ala chatman and the others or just being funny though was supposed to have looked very serious.

T.J the GM

Bengals.com

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, that aspiring NFL general manager, took note of the Bengals taking a pair of wide receivers in Coastal Carolina's Jerome Simpson and Florida's Andre Caldwell with their first four picks in this weekend's draft, and made the following pronouncement Sunday:

"Those two guys have made the team; that's no debate," Houshmandzadeh said. "Everyone else is fighting for a job. Me and Chad (Johnson)—if he's there—included. They drafted those guys high and they expect them to play."

Houshmandzadeh knows that when the Bengals have taken a wide receiver in the seven previous drafts Bob Bratkowski has been the offensive coordinator, they usually produce.

Just look at his first year, when Bratkowski got a pair of Pro Bowlers in Johnson and Houshmandzadeh in the second and seventh rounds, respectively.

Chris Henry, a third-rounder in 2005, caught 17 touchdown passes on his 88 catches before his off-field problems chased him off. Kelley Washington, a third-rounder in 2003, caught nine touchdowns and 72 balls before he left for free agency in 2007. In his one healthy year sixth-rounder Tab Perry had a touchdown running and catching as a rookie in what looked to be the start to a productive career that got derailed by a hip injury.

Perry's injury, Henry's release and letting Washington and Kevin Walter go to free agency chipped away at what once had been the NFL's deepest corps of receivers, leaving it without a No. 3 receiver that has more than 19 catches in a season from Carson Palmer heading into next month's on-field workouts.

Houshmandzadeh

Asked if the draft signaled that the Bengals were looking to the future, Houshmandzadeh said, "It could be," as he heads into the final year of his contract and Johnson is expected to deliver another NFL Network blowup this week in giving the term green room a whole different meaning after not getting traded during the draft.

"We've been consistently a top 10 offense and I would have thought we would have gone for a receiver in the third and then got one down the road," Houshmandzadeh said. "But we do need receivers. What, we've only got (six) under contract? I think it's going to be an easier adjustment for Caldwell because he played at Florida than it is going to be for Simpson because of the competition level."

Johnson and Houshmandzadeh may be under contract, but it doesn't look like they are going to join Antonio Chatman, Glenn Holt, Doug Gabriel and Marcus Maxwell when on-field voluntary workouts start May 13.

Houshmandzadeh is reluctant to tie his absence to his contract situation. He has referred to family and training issues and says there has been no exchange of proposals.

"I don't expect it," Houshmandzadeh said. "Maybe if there were talks, I would. But I'm not worried about it. I'm not thinking about it. I've got one year left. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't."

Houshmandzadeh got a little ticked when asked if the little-known Simpson reminded him of himself coming out of Oregon State in the seventh round.

"No, he's not like me at all. No one is like me. He's a second-rounder," Houshmandzadeh said. "I knew about him. I knew he had the big hands, that he had a tough time catching at the combine, and that he did better at his pro day.

"The competition will be good. Simpson and Caldwell have made the team and it's going to come down to three or four others."

He seemed to be saying it with a straight face.

O-LINE BUZZ: The pick that seemed to give the Bengals the biggest kick was Kansas tackle Anthony Collins in the fourth round. In a space of 10 minutes after the pick, offensive line coach Paul Alexander got a text from an NFL offensive coordinator and personnel man from two different teams congratulating him on the value of the pick.

Collins said he has yet to play guard in a game, but Alexander indicated he thinks he can play every spot but center.

But Alexander says the pick wasn't in response to left tackle Levi Jones' trade request.

"Levi has no situation," said head coach Marvin Lewis when asked about Jones' situation.

Jones isn't going to hold out. But he hasn't forgotten the bitterness last preseason over the disagreement in how to rehab his knee and how he felt the coaching staff slowed his comeback by not playing him.

"Levi is a team-first guy," Houshmandzadeh said. "Whenever they show film of guys running to the ball, helping out a teammate, he's always there. He plays hard. I think there is a level of expectation about winning and when you don't reach it, I think there's frustration."

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Oldcat Newbie

Oldcat

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Hmmm not sure how to take this,maybe he's mad because he wanted the current wrs on the team to get a chance?ala chatman and the others or just being funny though was supposed to have looked very serious.

Or its just the facts of life... 30 yr old WR have to prove they are worth the money each year.

I don't think TJ is mad about anything.

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GregCook Newbie

GregCook

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True I didn't think he was mad just seemed bit strange,but I guess thats cause I just figure TJ's job is as safe as a rookies heh...

TJ is looking forward to another big contract for next season so he'll be looking for anything to enhance his motivations in having a big, productive season. Controversy isn't really needed, just touchdowns, catches and yards after catch.

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HoosierCat Grand Master

HoosierCat

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File this one under, "TJ Continues to Audition for His Future Career as an NFL Network Talking Head." All the usual cliches -- everyone is fighting for a job, competition is good, not worried about contract, etc. -- mixed with mastery-of-the-obvious sound-bite analysis (Simpson will take longer to develop because he's from a small school, for example).

The reality is that, short of, oh, him shooting up a church service, Housh is a lock to make the roster. And if Chad goes, it won't be because we drafted a couple receivers.

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GregCook Newbie

GregCook

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File this one under, "TJ Continues to Audition for His Future Career as an NFL Network Talking Head." All the usual cliches -- everyone is fighting for a job, competition is good, not worried about contract, etc. -- mixed with mastery-of-the-obvious sound-bite analysis (Simpson will take longer to develop because he's from a small school, for example).

The reality is that, short of, oh, him shooting up a church service, Housh is a lock to make the roster. And if Chad goes, it won't be because we drafted a couple receivers.

Bottom line is that in the Carson era, he will always have quality targets to throw at. The worst thing for Mike Brown is hearing Carson saying he wants to be traded.

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COB Mentor

COB

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Or its just the facts of life... 30 yr old WR have to prove they are worth the money each year.

I don't think TJ is mad about anything.

I agree. In fact, I think with these types of statements, TJ is trying to distance himself from Chad. He's playing the mantra that got him where he is today: No one owes me anything, I'll work for whatever I get, and I expect no special treatment. Unlike Chad, who thinks the whole team, correction, the whole NFL, should revolve around him.

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HAPPYJAQ Newbie

HAPPYJAQ

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Also, remember that the Bengals are thinking about the cap. If they somehow cannot resign Andrews and Bigh Will retires, they are still set on the offfensive line with Jones, Collins, Ghiaciuc/Santucci, Willams and Whitworth, from left to right......and this is WORST case scenario, minus possible upgrade at Center through the draft. Even still, the Bengals should not have to use that pick on a C and should be abler to take BPA. Collins is a GREAT pick, and there is a reason that Alexander was receiving texts from other teams congratulating him on the selection.

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BengalszoneBilly Newbie

BengalszoneBilly

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what did tj say, am deaf here lol

The gist of it was T.J. being asked about how he felt about the Bengals drafting WR's early and often in the past draft. He commented that the coaches called him prior to give him a heads up about it, (classy) and he was all good with it. He followed that by talking up Chris Perry of all people, but seemed for real about it. He flatly stated that they were going to surprise a lot of people.

When asked about Chad, he played it safe and said he didn't really know what would happen. That's about it.

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COB Mentor

COB

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what did tj say, am deaf here lol

He also was asked what will happen if Chad sits out, because the interviewer said everybody would say Chad is the leader on the offense. TJ said not to bash Chad, but he's not a leader. Carson, Willie, and I are the leaders. Chad just does what he does, he's just there to play football.

One of the interviewer's also tried to get him to complain about the Bengals' draft. Specifically, the guy said the Bengals should have taken a running back to take some of the heat off you receivers, open up the passing game more. TJ said no, I think with having spent high picks on Chris Perry and Kenny Irons, he thought they (front office) wanted to change it up a bit. And he said from what he's heard Chris Perry has felt good and looked good, so he seemed to be saying they took that into consideration as well.

Essentially, TJ wouldn't be baited into stirring up any s**t or complaining. He also downplayed Chad's influence on the team, and seemed really confident about the prospects for the '08 season.

I don't think you could ask for a better mouthpiece for your team.

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Oldcat Newbie

Oldcat

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what did tj say, am deaf here lol

He also was asked what will happen if Chad sits out, because the interviewer said everybody would say Chad is the leader on the offense. TJ said not to bash Chad, but he's not a leader. Carson, Willie, and I are the leaders. Chad just does what he does, he's just there to play football.

One of the interviewer's also tried to get him to complain about the Bengals' draft. Specifically, the guy said the Bengals should have taken a running back to take some of the heat off you receivers, open up the passing game more. TJ said no, I think with having spent high picks on Chris Perry and Kenny Irons, he thought they (front office) wanted to change it up a bit. And he said from what he's heard Chris Perry has felt good and looked good, so he seemed to be saying they took that into consideration as well.

Essentially, TJ wouldn't be baited into stirring up any s**t or complaining. He also downplayed Chad's influence on the team, and seemed really confident about the prospects for the '08 season.

I don't think you could ask for a better mouthpiece for your team.

We should just re-sign him. So we take the risk that in 5 years hes lost a few steps. Id rather have him showing the youngsters how to be a professional player than have the money. Anything that looks large now will be comfortable in those years. TJ can buy Chad's big macs for him, thus making him feel like he has more money without a new contract.

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BengalszoneBilly Newbie

BengalszoneBilly

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We should just re-sign him.

If the Bengals don't do this very thing at some place and time in the not too distant future, I'd be hard pressed to find a bigger failure by the front office in the history of this organization. Touraj (T. J.) understands what it means to be a team player, and how helping the team is helping himself.

I used to wear my Chad #85 jersey every weekend when going out and about while my #84 usually hung in the closet. No more. I wear Houshmandzadeh's loud and proud these days.

whosyourmamafp3.jpg

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Pidge Newbie

Pidge

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The best plan is to make Chad play this season. The rookies can learn from him. Let him go fo 09 and one of these young guys can fill in, and we get a 1st and 3rd for Chad or whatever.

Exactly. We might have lost a little in future draft picks in return but we'll have gained a good reciever who knows that (and this is where pro sports are crazy) the better he performs for this team, the better the chances of him getting traded. Meanwhile, We're not down to one fully proven WR this season and the young guys get a solid year and looking and learning primarily.

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HoosierCat Grand Master

HoosierCat

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I used to wear my Chad #85 jersey every weekend when going out and about while my #84 usually hung in the closet. No more. I wear Houshmandzadeh's loud and proud these days.

Funny, I used to alternate between No. 85 and No. 9 on weekends. This past weekend, I was wearing my No. 51 Thurman jersey...

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