Houshmandzadeh intrigued by Eagles?

by Sheil Kapadia

Published Feb. 5, 2009, 9:41 a.m. ET

Pending free agent wide receiver

had some interesting things to say about the Eagles yesterday

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

at quarterback after

went down with an injury.

When asked about

, 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

and

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

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

, 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

, and actually praised

"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,

, and it's slim pickings behind Houshmandzadeh.

» READ MORE: 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.