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T.J.: Take the Steelers


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T.J.: Take the Steelers

By GEOFF HOBSON

January 27, 2009

The similarities are killing T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Two big-time receivers. A strong-armed quarterback. A running attack good enough to make it all so dangerous.

"And our running game was better than Arizona's," said Houshmandzadeh wistfully Tuesday night. "I'm kind of disappointed that they've gone this far the way they've done it because there are a lot of similarities. Our quarterback just got hurt."

Houshmandzadeh's voice trailed off to wherever 10-point leads drift. Even the Cardinals opponent is the same in Sunday's Super Bowl. The big, bad, Ben-led Steelers, the team the Bengals stunned on the second snap of the Stephen King Wild Card Game with a 66-yard pass from Carson Palmer to Chris Henry on which both suffered game-ending injuries in a 31-17 loss.

Many say the Bengals have never been right since that day, but they forget that nine months later Palmer sifted Pittsburgh's defending Super Bowl champions for four touchdown passes on their home turf in a 28-20 victory that gave the Bengals a 2-0 record in the division, 3-0 overall.

Palmer hit Houshmandzadeh for two touchdowns that day, a nine-yarder and 30-yarder. If Cards quarterback Kurt Warner can find wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin for a couple of those, Arizona will win Houshmandzadeh says.

"But they won't," said Houshmandzadeh, crediting his former head coach and Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. "LeBeau won't let Larry Fitzgerald beat them deep. He may catch a lot of balls short, but they won't give him the big one. That's how you beat Pittsburgh: with the big play. They're going to do what they always do. They're going to pressure the passer so the only thing he can do is get rid of it fast and they'll make sure you don't get the first down."

Even more galling to Houshmandzadeh is that he believes Fitzgerald and Boldin are more like him than He Who Changes His Name.

"They don't have anybody who is quick like Chad," said Houshmandzadeh of running mate Chad Ocho Cinco. "They're both bigger, stronger guys. Really, they just throw the ball up to Fitzgerald and he goes up and gets it. That's something I can do and have done."

And Houshmandzadeh thinks the Bengals can return to that form, but there is a big qualifier in there.

"The way our defense has improved and you have to figure there is no way our offense is going to be that bad again," he said. "Well, if I'm not back it can be that bad again."

Which, of course, is the huge question mark hanging over the offseason. Houshmandzadeh is choosing to low-profile it, even turning down some NFL Network gigs so he doesn't have to be outspoken about his contract situation that ends in free agency in 31 days at midnight Feb. 27.

With the franchise tag for a wide receiver just below $10 million for 2009, the conventional wisdom is the Bengals won't use it on him, a decision that must be made by Feb. 22. Most likely they will try to get something done in the next month and Houshmandzadeh said he would still talk to them if he goes on the market.

"I don't think what people realize is I wouldn't mind coming back," Houshmandzadeh said. "I just want a choice. I just want to see what else is out there. I'm not going to take the biggest deal to play on Mars. I want to get to the playoffs like Big Willie (Anderson) did. Yeah, I think we can get back and I've got a lot of friends there."

Houshmandzadeh, who lives in suburban Los Angeles, is a West Coast guy and his name has been linked in the last few days to San Francisco and Seattle. But he doesn't want to talk about it, preferring to let the situation play out.

"That's news to me. We'll see what happens. It's early," he said.

But not too early for Houshmandzadeh to look at film of some of the top college prospects that NFL Network has sent him. He may come out from behind the curtain and in front of the microphone once free agency is closer and there is the NFL scouting combine to discuss.

He'd love to see the Bengals draft one of those left tackles early. Or USC middle linebacker Rey Maualuga. He thinks head coach Marvin Lewis might like him.

"He looks like a guy that can run from sideline to sideline and make plays," Houshmandzadeh said. "Marvin hasn't had a guy like that since Odell (Thurman)."

But Houshmandzadeh is the one guy who always mentions the offensive line when the Bengals win and how critical it is. He likes the size of Alabama left tackle Andre Smith and the experience of Mississippi left tackle Michael Oher.

"Smith is huge. He's got some big feet and you wonder about him because they pretty much only ran the ball at Alabama," Houshmandzadeh said. "But he looks athletic enough that he can make the transition to pass blocking. Oher is the most experienced of them all. He's been pretty solid for a long time down there. Jason Smith is another big kid from Baylor that looks pretty good."

But for now, the microphone is stowed.

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7478

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Here's another thing to consider.....

Chad Johnson's salary for '09 is 4.5 million. T.J., if Franchise tagged, will earn at least 9 million and most likely closer to 10 million in '09. How will Chad react to having a receiver on his team that makes TWICE the money that Chad makes? The numbers below are his actual earned base salary per season (not including bonuses) and are not reflective of his cap number. I guess it's safe to say that one of the two must go.

Chad Johnson Salary History:

2001 $301,000

2002 $351,250

2003 $426,500

2004 $526,750

2005 $1 million

2006 $2.75 million

2007 $2.5 million

2008 $3 million

2009 $4.5 million

2010 $5 million

2011 $6 million

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God, I wish I made 10 million over the past 8 years then maybe I would have something to b*tch about... Anyway, Chad was quiet this year and I was happy for that. I don't think it's even smart to consider keeping both with the money that is going to be paid. However, time will surely tell...

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God, I wish I made 10 million over the past 8 years then maybe I would have something to b*tch about... Anyway, Chad was quiet this year and I was happy for that. I don't think it's even smart to consider keeping both with the money that is going to be paid. However, time will surely tell...

No kidding -- it's nice not having anybody interested in Chad on media row this year. This time last year sucked. Maybe having a terrible year was the only thing that could shut his mouth...or quiet interest in him. What's the sound of one hand clapping??? Chad Johnson.

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Funny how in one breath he sounds like he wants to come back to the Bengals and then in another sounds like he doesn't want to be here at all.

That would be the inner conflict of an honest man reading the script he was advised to read.

Sort of like, "I hate your guts, but I'm looking forward to working with you. Wait, did I say that first thing out loud?" :lol:

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He'd love to see the Bengals draft one of those left tackles early. Or USC middle linebacker Rey Maualuga. He thinks head coach Marvin Lewis might like him.

"He looks like a guy that can run from sideline to sideline and make plays," Houshmandzadeh said. "Marvin hasn't had a guy like that since Odell (Thurman)."

Big surprise an offensive "skill" player wants an O-Lineman...someone who can help the offense, without taking away any of their "touches".

All WR's, QB's, and RB's want lineman.......BUT even TJ cant deny the fact that Rey Maualuga is a BEAST.

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And didn't last offseasons rant on the NFL Network teach us how Chad Johnson doesn't include the bonus money in his contract when evaluating how much he's being respected?

That's straight Rosenwhore. I'm assuming Chad (not being swift of brain) is getting manipulated by his agent. Rosenwhore likes to play it both ways: during contract negotiations, he wants more of the money guaranteed (naturally). Then after the contract, he likes to claim that only the annual salary is a measure of who's making the most money. It's as if that signing bonus were some sort of tip or token of the team's affection and not a significant part of the overall compensation.

By playing it like that, he keeps his clients greedy and disgruntled at all times. I could probably appreciate the genius more if he weren't an annoying little s**t.

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I would love to see while someone was interviewing Rosenhaus, they just stand up in the middle of the interview and punch him in the f*cking head...

Get with the program, Army.

It's a brave new world.

More civilized.

We throw shoes now.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

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Who isn't picking the steelers besides Cardinal fans,Brown fans,Bengal fans & Raven fans

Big surprise an offensive "skill" player wants an O-Lineman...someone who can help the offense, without taking away any of their "touches".

All WR's, QB's, and RB's want lineman.......BUT even TJ cant deny the fact that Rey Maualuga is a BEAST.

Makes ya wonder how much reyrey is being talked about because I could see Carson,Rucker or rivers talking about Reyrey really didn't think TJ would bring him up.

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