TJ talks about his departure

[jjakq27]

Chick Ludwig interviewed TJ regarding the circumstances that caused him to leave the Bengals.

http://cincinnati.co...ly-comes-clean/

"Cincinnati Bengals fans have asked themselves a thousand times:

Why isn't T.J. Houshmandzadeh a Bengal? What exactly was it that lured the wide receiver away and made him sign with the Seattle Seahawks (five years, $40 million, $15 million guaranteed) as an unrestricted free agent during the 2009 offseason?

Now we finally know the answers.

Houshmandzadeh, who spurned the Bengals and Vikings in favor of Seattle, told ESPN's Doug Gottlieb this week that he let his personal feelings get in the way of a business decision.

Houshmandzadeh insinuated that negotiations opened with a low-ball offer from Bengals' management. He claimed that by the time the Bengals came around with the kind of money he wanted, it was simply too late. He had already taken what he called a "screw-it mentality" and signed with the team — Seattle — that showed him the most love.

Houshmandzadeh admitted that on the surface, his decision doesn't look like the best one. The Bengals won the AFC North while the Vikings are a win away from the Super Bowl. He then said to give it time and everything could turn out right.

Following Houshmandzadeh's exit, the Bengals were forced to sign, and settle for, Laveranues Coles.

Coles (43 catches, 514 yards, 5 TDs) didn't match T.J. (79 catches, 911 yards, 3 TDs) in statistics, and he didn't match T.J. in charisma.

Why isn't T.J. a Bengal? I blame the Bengals and Houshmandzadeh equally.

T.J. forgot that the only team that had faith in him way back in 2001 was the Bengals. They drafted him in the seventh round — the 204^th overall pick. And they stuck with him through all his hamstring problems early in his career.

And I blame the Bengals for having some of the worst bedside manners in the league. They seldom let a player know they love him … until it's too late."

[bwillycuse]

I miss his prduction. But dont miss his on field tantrums. If they had Technical fouls in NFL hed lead the lea\gue.

Lets close the book here on TJ please. HE made his bed. Now deal with it.

I dont get why people get so hurt in money negotiations. And money also isnt the end all be all of a negotiation.

TJ... Yu went to the pro bowl because of Palmer and the Bengals.

Enjoy mediocrity in Seattle. I dont think they like you there either.

[Pidge]

Deez Nutz, so on and so forth.

[Pidge]

Why isn't T.J. a Bengal? I blame the Bengals and Houshmandzadeh equally.

Er no, Chick. TJ isn't a Bengal because of TJ. Unless the Bengals are suddenly responsible for the egos of every individual in their employ. You stupid f**king gonk.

[Trevor]

I definately miss his numbers... I mean he's almost a guaranteed 1st down... Man i hope lavernaeus comes back and can get 800 next season... :-/, he has stated that he's been banged up all season. But still no excuse for not catching the ball

[combatbengal]

Coles sucks; he can't even lace TJ's shoes! I hope we draft a great WR this year! We also need to pick one up in FA! Caldwell bites too. When he does catch the ball which isn't to often, he fumbles.

[semiotter]

I don't see why this is still a tpoic? Sure TJ was a money recv for the Bengals but WTF he isn't the first player to leave a NFL team before.

[Kazkal]

I don't see why this is still a tpoic? Sure TJ was a money recv for the Bengals but WTF he isn't the first player to leave a NFL team before.

Because People are still pissed off about the Offenses lack of passing game so figure they can blame the problem on losing TJ even though Coles & caldwell put up around same numbers together so still a Problem outside of that IMO.

[TJJackson]

Just to be clear, given the subject of this thread - I am not departing

Well, unless the mods say I am. Then I am.

But their checks are on their way, so.....

[BengalByTheBay]

I don't see why this is still a tpoic? Sure TJ was a money recv for the Bengals but WTF he isn't the first player to leave a NFL team before.

Because People are still pissed off about the Offenses lack of passing game so figure they can blame the problem on losing TJ even though Coles & caldwell put up around same numbers together so still a Problem outside of that IMO.

This is still a topic because (1) TJ can't shut his mouth near a microphone now that Chad's out of the way, (2) TJ's essentially admitting that he negotiated like a jackass and got all excited because they put his face up on the jumbotron for his visit, and (3) TJ isn't looking much like a fit in Seattle. Sure, fans are pissed at him, but speaking solely for myself, it had way more to do with him taking an unnecessary verbal dump on the team on his way out of town rather than the fact that he was trying to get more money. That makes his current comments somewhat more interesting because it pretty much confirmed what the Bengals had said at the time.

As for the "bedside manner" negotiating by the Bengals, I knew far more about that from watching "Hard Knocks" than anything the esteemed Chick Ludwig had to say. There is plenty of truth to it. That said, if you're a grown up, you weigh offers and then decide. If things like taking a plane ride over the city are important to you, then I suppose you let that convince you over the objective offerings. Personally, to be swayed by such spangles is kinda juvenile, but if TJ's having any buyer's remorse, he only has himself to blame.

[jjakq27]

I don't see why this is still a tpoic? Sure TJ was a money recv for the Bengals but WTF he isn't the first player to leave a NFL team before.

It was on the Enquirer blog. TJ had never really said much about leaving here so I just wanted to pass it on for anyone out of town, that's all. Nothing more nothing less.

Just to be clear, given the subject of this thread - I am not departing

Well, unless the mods say I am. Then I am.

But their checks are on their way, so.....

Thanks TJ...glad you've decided to stick around. As for the other mods....I think you're OK (for now)!

[Sea Ray]

After all this I still don't get whether TJ thinks he should have stayed with the Bengals or signed with the Vikings

[Ickey44]

Personally, to be swayed by such spangles is kinda juvenile, but if TJ's having any buyer's remorse, he only has himself to blame.

I would think that if anyone is having buyer's remorse that it would be the Seahawks.

[HAPPYJAQ]

I love Housh for what he brought to the team, but he was also one of the so-called "cancers" in the locker room. Simply put, the chip on his shoulder from where he was picked in the draft, actually HURT the team. In his last few years, TJ's beef in Cincinnati has been the playcalling, and I for one believe that Brat did an excellent job in transitioning to a ball-control offense this year. You have to consider that this year was the first in his career that he's been asked to do that, and that goes back to the Seattle days. He'll be much better in 2010. TJ would've been the ultimate malcontent, and you also have the remember that TJ had the most receptions in his last two seasons here. Would you think he'd be able to deal with Cedric being the #1 option in the offense, at this point of his career? I don't think this team could have existed with TJ and Chad on the same team, especially if you consider both fancy themselves as #1 receivers in an offense. An argument could be made that NEITHER is truly a #1 passing option in an offense, in 2009.

At the same time, I'm not writing Coles off. I think he has some miles left, but he's far from a respectable target as the #2 WR. He simply doesn't command the attention of defenses in the passing game, and struggles even in man coverage. At this point, he's a very solid #3, albeit much less a deep threat than Henry.

All that said, the biggest hole on the team remains another option in the passing game, and I think that's all this team needs to compete for an AFC Championship.