TJ's Hard to Get Act?

[HoosierCat]

Oh, please. Put up or shut up. From da site:

T.J. MULLING: Getting the urge to put on a helmet and get in a huddle, T.J. Houshmandzadeh says he's thinking about coming to the Bengals' first voluntary camp next week.

Houshmandzadeh is weighing the pros and cons and on Tuesday he characterized it as "a dilemma," between his individual workouts at home in the Los Angeles area and the team's on-field activities at Paul Brown Stadium.

"I know I get a lot of benefit with the work I do on my own out here," said Houshmandzadeh, who works out once every day and twice on Tuesdays and Thursdays. "And my kids are here. They're used to having me around.

"But it's obvious you can't simulate everything like you can on the field with the team," he said. "You've got the helmet on, you're going against coverages. If you're a competitor, that gets the juices going."

Houshmandzadeh came to a couple of voluntary sessions last year when he decided to try the home school route and he says he'll try to get here again for some of the weeks. He ended up co-leading the NFL in catches with a Bengals'-record 112 catches.

He says if he comes in Tuesday that doesn't mean he's motivated by his contract year or by the Bengals' drafting wide receivers in back-to-back rounds for the first time in 27 years.

"Really, the money has nothing to do with it," Houshmandzadeh said. "It's not to the point where there's been an offer and there's been a counter or anything like that. Hey, it's either going to happen or it's not and I'm not going to gripe or say anything bad if it doesn't. I'm coming in there to win."

Just what we need, another drama queen. Sorry if I come off as short-tempered, but seriously get with the program or go away. Don't we have enough crap at WR with Chad?

[Kazkal]

I guess I'm failing to see the drama in this :|

TJ wants to spend time with his family and he had his most productive season yet doing the same thing last year,I doubt he's butt hurt about not having a new contract yet because he knows he'll get his payday next year.If it's not by the Bengals so be it he gave us a discounted rate the first time around.

PS,Next year on the other hand I could see a problem if we franchised him.

[redsbengalsbucks]

No griping about money, wanting to be closer to his family while he can and stating that he is coming to win.

Man what is wrong with him!!!!

[walzav29]

It's hard to see why this is hard to understand. If you have kids you would easily understand how hard it would be to leave them for non-mandatory stuff. He is not pulling a Chad or a Henry. Leave the guy alone.

[skyline]

Yeah, Hoosier...unless I'm missing your sarcasm, I don't see where you're coming from on this one.

I read the article and got the completely opposite impression. I wish we had a few more guys like him on our team.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

This is No Big Deal.

In LA he gets personalized attention from his trainer, who I'll just guess is probably a lot better than the Bengas' (on) crack training and medical staff. He stayed in LA last year and had his best year. That's a fairly convincing argument.

And his kids are there. Do recall, TJ's father flat-out bailed on him, so consider that it might really hurt him to be away from his kids. As a guy who's dad wasn't often around, I can tell you that it makes you always want to be there for your kids. I've turned down jobs that would involve heavy travel for that reason.

I think that absent the Chad issues, TJ would definitely stay away. But with Cheech gone and Chad being a bitch, TJ might be thinking that the team really needs him there. Which it does. But I don't see this as contract angling or drama queening, I see this as a regular guy who can't decide between two groups of people on opposite sides of a continent who both need him.

[GregCook]

This is No Big Deal.

In LA he gets personalized attention from his trainer, who I'll just guess is probably a lot better than the Bengas' (on) crack training and medical staff. He stayed in LA last year and had his best year. That's a fairly convincing argument.

And his kids are there. Do recall, TJ's father flat-out bailed on him, so consider that it might really hurt him to be away from his kids. As a guy who's dad wasn't often around, I can tell you that it makes you always want to be there for your kids. I've turned down jobs that would involve heavy travel for that reason.

I think that absent the Chad issues, TJ would definitely stay away. But with Cheech gone and Chad being a bitch, TJ might be thinking that the team really needs him there. Which it does. But I don't see this as contract angling or drama queening, I see this as a regular guy who can't decide between two groups of people on opposite sides of a continent who both need him.

Non issue last year, less of one this year.

TJ is the last year of his contract, he's 30+ years old, a "possession" receiver, he will play as hard as possible this year to get that huge contract next season. He'll be fun to watch this year, probably his last as a Bengal.

[JoePong]

I don't see what the problem is. The only drama queen I see is a fan who is trying to create a problem where one doesn't exist. Some people just need something to compain about I guess.

[HoosierCat]

Yeah, Hoosier...unless I'm missing your sarcasm, I don't see where you're coming from on this one.

I read the article and got the completely opposite impression. I wish we had a few more guys like him on our team.

Either show up or shut up. Like we need another player publicly "agonizing" over whether they will deign to appear at workouts. It's bulls**t.

[Bobcat Bengal]

you trippin'.

[HoosierCat]

Yeah, I'm trippin'. Fortunately, Marvin Lewis can see through TJ's act.

t sounds like the Bengals didn't draft three wide receivers last week just because of the Chad Johnson holdout and the Chris Henry firing. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis tells me there's a T.J. Houshmandzadeh element to it, too.

"T.J.'s at the end of his contract this year,'' Lewis said, "and I don't know if it's possible to re-sign him. Chad says he won't play without a trade. We just have to be prepared for anything this year, and for the future.''

That's what this is all about: money, money, money. TJ is playing passive to Chad's aggressive, complaining about what a burden it is to play in Cincy, so far from hearth and home. My heart bleeds. Not. And neither, apparently, does Marvin's.

[skyline]

Yeah, Hoosier...unless I'm missing your sarcasm, I don't see where you're coming from on this one.

I read the article and got the completely opposite impression. I wish we had a few more guys like him on our team.

Either show up or shut up. Like we need another player publicly "agonizing" over whether they will deign to appear at workouts. It's bulls**t.

I would guess that he was asked a direct question, and he gave an honest answer. An answer that makes perfect sense and that I can understand completely. *shrug*

Still don't see the issue here.

[jjakq27]

It's hard to see why this is hard to understand. If you have kids you would easily understand how hard it would be to leave them for non-mandatory stuff. He is not pulling a Chad or a Henry. Leave the guy alone.

What if everybody had the same philosphy?

I get where TJ is coming from but we are talking about his job right? I don't like traveling for work but I do it because it is my job.

It kinda makes it hard for a coaching staff when you've got guys freelancing on their own rather than being part of the team. I'll bet his new teammates could learn something if he was here rather than is sunny CA.

[HoosierCat]

It's hard to see why this is hard to understand. If you have kids you would easily understand how hard it would be to leave them for non-mandatory stuff. He is not pulling a Chad or a Henry. Leave the guy alone.

What if everybody had the same philosphy?

I get where TJ is coming from but we are talking about his job right? I don't like traveling for work but I do it because it is my job.

It kinda makes it hard for a coaching staff when you've got guys freelancing on their own rather than being part of the team. I'll bet his new teammates could learn something if he was here rather than is sunny CA.

Bingo. TJ knew where Cincy was when he signed his contracts. He knew where his family was. He had a choice: either move the family or accept the fact he was going to be away for long periods. He chose the latter, and it wasn't an issue -- until the last year or so when his deal was winding down and the prospect of a big payday approached. Coincidence? I think not.

And for the record, walter, I do have kids.

[bengalsfansince68]

I don't see what the problem is. The only drama queen I see is a fan who is trying to create a problem where one doesn't exist. Some people just need something to compain about I guess.

Damn, Hoosey...

If I was as far to the wrong side of Joe Pong as you are in this thread, I'd take stock of my thinking immediately.

They are voluntary for a reason. You are clearly blowing this all out of proportion.

Un-wad your panties and calm the phuck down. Geez!

[BengalByTheBay]

Less TJ -- More Simpson!

[PhunkE1]

Yeah, I'm trippin'. Fortunately, Marvin Lewis can see through TJ's act.

t sounds like the Bengals didn't draft three wide receivers last week just because of the Chad Johnson holdout and the Chris Henry firing. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis tells me there's a T.J. Houshmandzadeh element to it, too.

"T.J.'s at the end of his contract this year,'' Lewis said, "and I don't know if it's possible to re-sign him. Chad says he won't play without a trade. We just have to be prepared for anything this year, and for the future.''

That's what this is all about: money, money, money. TJ is playing passive to Chad's aggressive, complaining about what a burden it is to play in Cincy, so far from hearth and home. My heart bleeds. Not. And neither, apparently, does Marvin's.

I'm sure Marvin would say the samething about any player in the last year of their contract. He's right, we don't know if we're going to be able to resign him. You are blowing a non-issue way out of proportion. Initially I figured you were just being sarcastic.

[HoosierCat]

They are voluntary for a reason.

And you and I both know exactly how "voluntary" these workouts are viewed by teams, right? That's why Bill Parcells greeted Jason Taylor with hugs and kisses the other day when he took a break from Dancing With the Stars to pop by the Dolphins' locker room. Oh...wait...that might have happened just a bit differently.

The fact is that TJ is conducting his own "pay me or I'm gone" campaign. And even someone as dense as "The Chickster" can see that the answer is "buh-bye." So does kirkendall, who adds that there may be other reasons besides money that the Bengals wouldn't shed many tears over TJ's departure.

[skyline]

I'd compare this to a college class that doesn't require attendance.

Some people need to be there every day. Other people are better off studying on their own, and showing up on test day when it matters. I think TJ showed last season that he'll do just fine (if not better) in the self-study group. I can certainly understand his desire to get more 1v1 attention elsewhere as opposed to being lumped into the group. Plus, this frees up more attention and reps for the receivers that actually need it.

And before someone brings it up, yes I realize that a college class isn't the same as a team sport. That said, if you feel like TJs absence from voluntaries is going to hurt this team, then I'll have to respectfully disagree.

Now, if the Bengals were installing a new offense or something else along those lines, I'd feel the exact opposite. Since that's not the case, TJs absence doesn't concern me in the least. As for what it means about TJs future, I have no clue. We'll see when we see, I guess.

[HoosierCat]

I think TJ showed last season that he'll do just fine (if not better) in the self-study group.

That's fine. But like I said, if you aren't going to show up, shut up. TJ's talk of a "dilemma" now, after the Bengals have stocked up on WRs like a squirrel stashing away nuts for the winter, is just damage control. With it looking more and more likely he'll be allowed to walk after this year, he needs to make sure he doesn't get a rep as a guy who disappears in the offseason. Any potential suitors will look dimly on that, "voluntary" or not.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Bingo. TJ knew where Cincy was when he signed his contracts. He knew where his family was. He had a choice: either move the family or accept the fact he was going to be away for long periods. He chose the latter, and it wasn't an issue -- until the last year or so when his deal was winding down and the prospect of a big payday approached. Coincidence? I think not.

He didn't show up last year. This year, he's considering it because he thinks it might be good for the team. That seems to me to kill the contract angle.

The fact that it's more of an issue the last couple of years than previous doesn't prove anything. As you pointed out, these things aren't voluntary for the average player. But in the last couple of years, TJ solidified himself to the point that he could get away with it.

Also, you have to remember these are people we're talking about. Kids grow up, situations change. He might want to spend more time with them now that they're older. Maybe the years of being away have worn on him.

Did somebody piss in your Wheaties this morning, dude? I know we all hate Chad now but I don't see a reason to start lashing out in all directions. Family situations change, and to dog the guy for being torn between job and family - like many of us are - I'm just not seeing it. I don't see any reason to believe he's making it up.

[HoosierCat]

He didn't show up last year. This year, he's considering it because he thinks it might be good for the team. That seems to me to kill the contract angle.

And he started to consider it when? It suddenly became a dilemma when?

This is all about his next contract.

[GregCook]

He didn't show up last year. This year, he's considering it because he thinks it might be good for the team. That seems to me to kill the contract angle.

And he started to consider it when? It suddenly became a dilemma when?

This is all about his next contract.

The Bengal community needs to take virtual dose of Midol.

I think with Chad's situation always a distraction, the Bengals don't need another with TJ. Especially when he is doing what he did last year without the strum and drang. So what's the drama?

Given the new reality of 3 WR prospects from the draft, it was obvious 2 weeks ago the Bengals are preparing life with neither TJ or Chad. They know TJ will play hard this year, the new players will learn alot from him. Next year they'll be ready for neither player if that is the way it goes.

[jjakq27]

Does anyone really know how much time we are talking about here?

Days? Weeks? Months?

[JoePong]

He didn't show up last year. This year, he's considering it because he thinks it might be good for the team. That seems to me to kill the contract angle.

And he started to consider it when? It suddenly became a dilemma when?

This is all about his next contract.

It has nothing to do with a contract. He probably started considering it because the bengals brought in so many rookie WRs and he figures it would be good to have a veteran presence around for some leadership. He's probably trying to weigh the benefits of that with what he can accomplish working out on his own. In the past it's been pretty much all vets. Now, no Chad, no Henry, no Washington, no Perry, there are basically no experienced WRs on the roster other than Chatman (at least in this offense). My guess is that's what he's thinking about -his responsibilities as the vet of the group and he may not feel right about skipping. But this has nothing to do with his next contract and does not affect it one bit.