share
email
font size
options
 
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Pending free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh had some interesting things to say about the Eagles yesterday during an interview with Mike Missanelli on ESPN 950.

Houshmandzadeh, considered the top free-agent receiver on the market, said he could potentially be interested in playing in Philadelphia.

"If the Eagles are interested in me, let's put it like this. If they'll be interested in me, I'll be interested in them," he said when asked if the Eagles would be his top choice.

Houshmandzadeh, 31, had 92 catches for 904 yards last season, but keep in mind he was dealing with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback after Carson Palmer went down with an injury.

When asked about Donovan McNabb, Houshmandzadeh said he's a fan.

"I think McNabb is a fine quarterback," he said. "He's one of the best quarterbacks in the league, probably, I can't even think of another quarterback that has performed throughout his career the way he has and would be put in a situation like he was put in in Baltimore, but he bounced back very well.

"He was going to playoff games consistently with Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell starting for him," Houshmandzadeh said. "Consistently performing well, making it easy for them. A quarterback is gonna make it easy for his receivers and his receiver is gonna make those catches that is out of his radius where he puts the ball, ball sails on him, you go get it, I mean it goes hand in hand. You just need somebody to make plays. And you make each other look good, and I think that's what he needs."

Earlier in the interview, he addressed McNabb's inability to get the Eagles' over the hump.

"Trust me man, you would prefer to go to the playoffs every year than not go," he said. "Even though you're not winning it, you always have a chance. It can be very difficult when you don't have a chance. And imagine how you guys would act if you're not in the playoffs. So he [McNabb] gets you guys in the playoffs. Things might not go the way you like when you get there but you guys are always there and you just need the weapons. When he had the weapons, look what he did."

There's a chance that Houshmandzadeh could get the franchise tag from the Bengals, which would pay him $9.88 million for one season. However, NFL Network's Adam Schefter cited a league source at the end of December who said the Bengals would not franchise the wide receiver. Per Schefter, if the Bengals want him back, they'll attempt to sign Houshmandzadeh to a long-term deal.

During the Eagles' now infamous tie with the Bengals last season, Houshmandzadeh caught 12 balls for 149 yards and a touchdown.

"Did you watch the Eagles and the Bengals game during the season? I was just giving Andy Reid, I was giving him an interview in person," Houshmandzadeh said. "That's all I was doing. I was giving him a three-month interview ahead of time. That's all."

Now before you go e-mailing your friends and telling them that the Eagles are going to sign Houshmandzadeh, keep in mind that he's making the rounds. He also spoke to a Chicago radio station yesterday, and actually praised Rex Grossman.

"You know what's funny, man? Y'all probably going to laugh at me when I tell you this; I kind of like Rex Grossman," he said.

The free-agency signing period starts on Feb. 27. Last week, Eagletarian listed the wide receivers available, and it's slim pickings behind Houshmandzadeh.

Click here to listen to the full podcast. Houshmandzadeh is a great interview. He spoke intelligently about what's gone right and wrong with the Eagles over the last decade, and even delved into a discussion about his Iranian father, who he has never met. Entertaining stuff all around.
Posted by Sheil Kapadia @ 9:41 AM  Permalink | 57 comments
57
Comments   
Comment removed.
Posted 10:03 AM, 02/05/2009
Dierte
Hey lonewolf, since you like quoting people who talk about McNabb, why don't you start mentioning what a legitimate Pro Bowl WR says about him? Loser...
Posted 10:13 AM, 02/05/2009
mongoS
Ok a legit Pro WR speaks the truth. QBs and WRs need to make each other look good. I like that FACT. Mcnabb has guys that only can catch perfect uncontested passes. Meaning Philly has pop warner level WRs. Just imagine if the cheap ownership could have shocked the world and got Randy Moss last year. I guess I am dreaming
Posted 10:15 AM, 02/05/2009
mongoS
Yesterday it was player slams Mcnabb. Why the subtle headline on this??
Posted 10:37 AM, 02/05/2009
cleansports
The Randy Moss situation was not really a situation where the Eagles were going after him because they wanted him. He just wanted a team to back him up with an offer so he could push NE into closing the deal.
Posted 10:43 AM, 02/05/2009
gho_matt
If he likes Rex Grossman, I think he needs his head checked. Joking. Lets go get him, TJ is a stud WR! I honestly feel that with a couple of tweaks, we are a dominant force in the NFC, possibly steamrolling our way to the SB.
Posted 10:44 AM, 02/05/2009
gho_matt
lol@ preemptive jab at lonewolf.
Posted 10:51 AM, 02/05/2009
mongoS
I bet he wished he was an Eagle when he watching from home that NFC title game. Brady goes from his norm of around 25 td passes to 50 with Moss. Wow! How the value of a good wr is still not understood in Philly is ridiculous.
Posted 10:52 AM, 02/05/2009
skapadia
MongoS, yesterday I believed that Trotter did slam McNabb. Today, I didn't want to create the impression that Houshmandzadeh came out and said he wants to play for the Eagles. To me, he just sounds like he's keeping his options open. Thanks everyone for reading. -- Sheil
Posted 11:02 AM, 02/05/2009
veritas1325
I would much rather a TJ Houshmandzadeh than Bolden, but I'll gladly take either. I'm afraid; however, that we'll end up with neither. Worse still, we'll end up with nothing. Unless Thrash is available. Eagles probably would bring him back.
Posted 11:04 AM, 02/05/2009
kingsolomonsmind
TJ said what we all know. Receivers make QB's look good and vise versa. McNabb is a good QB who has spent most of his career throwing to subpar receivers. I like DeSean Jackson, Curtis and Avant (who I think is underrated - he makes the tough catches pretty consistently). However, if we could get in a guy like TJ or Boldin, I htink we'd be even stronger.
Posted 11:11 AM, 02/05/2009
jmcginle
Pipe Dream..."They are fine" is what Andy Reid said about his WR's. I would love to have TJ or Boldin, but it probably won't happen. I would also love to have Julius Peppers. Need to get to the QB without blitzing! How great would it be to have an off-season like we had in 2004 when we signed BOTH the FREAK-Javon Kearse and T.O? TJ & Peppers or Haynesworth!
Posted 11:17 AM, 02/05/2009
Murrayman
I wonder if Asante thinks Lurie is cheap?
Posted 11:26 AM, 02/05/2009
fizzbin
"Houshmandzadeh...said he could potentially be interested in playing in Philadelphia." That is such a weak endorsement that it is not even newsworthy, ergo the article is not newsworthy. I could potentially be interested in skinny dipping in the Arctic Ocean - does anyone care? Should anyone?
Posted 11:29 AM, 02/05/2009
mongoS
Asante probably could play WR better than what is there now. In terms of headline creativity why not Cincy WR praises Mcnabb or he thinks he is one of the best in league or Cincy Wr suggest Philly WRs can't make tough plays.
About Moving the Chains
Sheil Kapadia is a sports producer for philly.com. His earliest memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with his dad, most of which turned out disappointing results. He's here to discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or by clicking here

And you can now follow Moving the Chains on Twitter.