T.J. Joins Seahawks

It appears as if the Bengals have continued their ineptitude as T.J. Houshmandzadeh looks like he is headed for the Seattle Seahawks.  At least the Bengals still have Sugar Shayne Graham and a #1 WR who doesn’t want to be there. 

Unreal.

Cincinnati, OH – T.J. Houshmandzadeh ended one of the more remarkable careers in Bengals history Monday when he agreed to terms with the Seahawks after his recruiting itinerary turned into a siege when his agent confirmed a five-year deal.

While Houshmandzadeh, a self-proclaimed “West Coast Guy,” went part way home, the Bengals hoped the winter weather calmed down in time for long-time Jets receiver Laveranues Coles to make it to Cincinnati for a visit Tuesday.

Seattle’s West Coast climate appeared to be more soothing than Carson Palmer’s cell phone for Houshmandzadeh after the Bengals offered what amounted to about $7 million per year over four seasons. ESPN reports he got the magic $8 million figure in Seattle per five years with a $40 million deal that included $15 million guaranteed.

“It was very, very difficult for him,” said agent Kennard McGuire. “He agonized daily over this in every regard. He’s very thankful for all the time he spent in Cincinnati.”

Palmer lobbied hard to bring back his third-down safety net and the Bengals apparently made him an offer that included an escalator that would have turned it into a $7.5 million per year deal in much the way it does in the contract of Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Houshmandzadeh, one of the top five receivers in the NFL since 2004 and the third leading Bengal receiver of all time with 507 catches, had made $3.2 million in ’08.

A league source said that the Bengals have reached out to Coles but they couldn’t get him into Cincinnati Monday because of the bad weather back East but he’s expected Tuesday. Coles has played all but two of his nine NFL seasons with the Jets and has 631 of his own career catches for 8,095 yards, 18 more catches than the guy that he would play opposite in Chad Ocho Cinco.

The 5-11, 193-pound Coles has a career yards per catch of 12.8 compared to Houshmandzadeh’s 11.4. Houshmandzadeh’s yards-per-catch has declined since his best of 3.4 in 2004, which has some analysts ripping. Coles had 12.1 each in 2006 and 2008 after 11.7 in 2007. During his first four seasons he averaged at least 14.2 yards per catch. Coles spent two seasons in Washington, 2003 and 2004, but returned to the club that drafted him in the third round out of Florida State in 2000.

The Jets took Coles 74 picks after the Bengals made his college teammate and fellow wide receiver Peter Warrick the fourth pick in the draft. Coles, who has already visited Buffalo and, according to published reports, has been ruled out by the Dolphins, is reportedly seeking $6 million per year.

Seattle was the team that hosted Houshmandzadeh’s family Friday during a beautiful Northwest day. When he left Minneapolis Sunday night, it was about 10 degrees.