No dramatic signing of wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh to the Washington Redskins yet. There was an early report from a Milwaukee TV station that Who’s Your Mama signed with the Minnesota Vikings, but no one else has picked up that story. So, he’s still out there.
Teams may be waiting until after the first week of the season to sign free agents, thereby avoiding a guarantee to their salary. There may be reason to wait on Houshmandzadeh.
A story in The Seattle Times points out that “Of the 20 players Seattle released or waived, Houshmandzadeh was the only one who started a game for Seattle last season.” (Empahsis mine)
Housh had 79 receptions for 911 yards and three touchdowns with the Seahawks last year.
Those numbers may be disappointing to the Seahawks, but are golden to a team looking for a No. 2 wide receiver, especially the Redskins where Santana Moss may be the only wide-out to beat Antwaan Randle El’s 2009 performance (50 receptions, 530 yards).
“Only starter released” is a hint, of what I don’t know.
More worrisome is that Houshmandzadeh was released to make room for Mike Williams. Mike Williams? Yes, that Mike Williams who’s remembered as Matt Millan’s biggest blunder with the Detroit Lions and who disappeared on the rosters of the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans. Williams caught 10 passes for 177 yards and a score during the preseason.
Williams over Houshmandzadeh might say more about Pete Carroll than TJ.
Clark Judge at CBSSports.com wrote this about Housh:
“…the truth of the matter is that Houshmandzadeh can’t run. He still has the hands but speed? People in Seattle say you could time him with an hour glass. Uh-oh.”
Judge was summarizing winners and losers on NFL cut-down day. He put the comment in the section Logical move that won’t Happen: Houshmandzadeh to Minnesota.
We don’t see Seahawk games so can’t assess Houshmandzadeh vs. Williams vs. speed. That’s Bruce Allen’s job
The Redskins needed a cold-eyed general manager who looks at players for what they could do in their next game rather than what they did for their last team. Vinny Cerrato would have pulled the trigger already on Houshmandzadeh or Vincent Jackson, sacrificing draft picks and cap room to avoid the uncertainty of delay. But free agent players are like buses. If you miss one, another will be along in 15 minutes or so.
Now that Allen is here, let’s trust the process to make the best move. (Still crossing my fingers and toes on Houshmandzadeh.)
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