Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh spent eight seasons in the shadows of Chad Johnson/Ochocinco. So we were rarely treated on a national scale to Houshmandzadeh’s habit of making big promises.
We wish we had known what we were missing from 2001 through 2008; if so, we would have appreciated Chad even more.
Houshmandzadeh has proven to be Ochocinco without the charisma. Chad can say things with an electric smile and a pleasant demeanor, and it’s (usually) humorous, or at a minimum not annoying.
T.J. has little or no charisma, so when he brags, it makes him less appealing. Or, more accurately, completely unappealing.
The good news, however, is that all of his boasts for 2009 completely missed the mark.
He told Sporting News over the summer that he and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck “will” take the Seahawks to the playoffs. Houshmandzadeh also said that he “will” have a top-five receiving season. And he said that he “will” go to the Pro Bowl.
(We would wager that the word “will” doesn’t mean what he thinks it means.)
Housmandzadeh later griped that he received only a rating of 91 in the Madden game, saying he’d boycott the new edition of the only NFL-licensed video game. But the 91 placed him as the sixth-best receiver in the NFC. In 2009 receiving yards (911) he was 16th among all NFC wideouts. And his three touchdown receptions put him in an eight-way tie for 26th place among NFC receivers. (In fairness, his receptions (79) put him at seventh among all NFC receivers.)
So, in reality, Madden overestimated Houshmandzadeh’s abilities for 2009.
And Houshmadzadeh grossly overestimated his own abilities for 2009.
Sure, he’s got excuses. He has claimed that the ball wasn’t thrown to him when open. But he’s been openly frustrated, and last week he seemed to blame his mediocre season on facing constant double coverage.
Still, we’re hoping he’s learned that his best bet for 2010 will be to inject some humility into his comments regarding his skills.
Or, better yet, to say nothing at all.
You suck Houshmazoo, you will never be Chad and I’m glad you chose not to sign with the Vikings. We drafted Percy Harvin, and look at what he has done. What he has accomplished in his rookie season. Oh ya, and Sidney Rice is loving be the # 1 wideout.
I’m sure glad “whosurmama” chose not to sign with the Vikings, don’t know what the Vikes would’ve did with “9″ pro bowlers………another one of TJ’s predictions was that he had a better chance to reach his “other predictions” with the Seachickens than with the Vikings.
Ochocinco was the best thing that ever happened to Housh. Average at best, get ready for an 84 rating next year.
Just goes to prove that money isn’t everything…
If Housh would have taken slightly less money to play with the Vikes, or stay with the Bengals we’d probably still be talking about him as one of the top 10 WRs in football.
Good thing for Downloadable updated rosters on Madden 10.
And good thing he didn’t sign with the Vikings, or the same could’ve happened to them and Seattle could be going to a bye week in the playoffs (not really, their receivers are all free agent busts, except maybe Burleson which comes closest to not being a FA bust).
I look forward to seeing him shut up for next year.
The reality is he was benefitted by Ochocinco drawing double on the other side all the time. When the onus is on him to step up, he clearly can’t. It’s not all on the Seattle QB though – Housh has had his share of drops this year too. He dropped two yesterday, I counted.
caveat emptor
Where are all the TJ fans who said he was going to be great. Those of us in Cincinnati really enjoyed him while he was here, but we knew he would pull a Peerless Price.
Ochocinco teaches a private class to NFL wide receivers every year about how to make bold comments and look good. Housh failed this class. He not only failed this class, he failed the real NFL wide receiver class on not sucking. Watch the film, he was thrown to a lot, but his speed was non existant and his seperation was spotty. The man either had no heart or no ability. Probably both. Don’t expect much from him from here on out.
saying ochocinco has charisma is like saying howard stern is a great conversationalist.
his act plays well in wv I suppose….
An electric smile and a pleasant demeanor? Chad Johnson has charisma? The guy is narcissistic and arrogant. He is a me-first player who cares more about his own superficial image than his team.
Housmanzadeh had a terrible season and made himself look bad with some of the things he said. But let’s not go crowning Chad Johnson as a model for NFL receivers.
Johnson is, by your description, pleasant and humorous only because his team is in the playoffs and winning. He has clearly demonstrated a habit of not being pleasant or humorous when not getting his way.
Chad Johnson allegedly punched one of his coaches in the locker room during a playoff game. How is that pleasant or humorous?
Ha ha ha!! Douchemanzadeh is a loser!! Better Use Some Thought!!! That’s what bust stands for! He was all over philly radio when FA hit talkin about how he’d be an eagle tomorrow if they wanted him to, and the birds didn’t even talk to the man, (thank god) then he goes to the Vikings, but doesn’t sign, then to Seattle?? C’mon!!! This clown is nothin but a gun for higher who chased the money!! If he ever wanted his best chance to win he’d have gone to the vikes… As it is, he’s got less yards and TD’s than my teams TE, is just as slow, but won’t break takles or block!!! Hahaha, seacocks suck!! Hasselback sucks!! Douchemanzadeh sucks!!
@mike florio
do you follow your own advice when it comes to predicting superbowl participants? do you think best to keep your mouth shut? all evidence to the contrary seeing as how you picked the redskins to be in the superbowl but somehow they magically are going to be picking 4th in the draft next year. i love your site mike but you are kind of a do as i say not as i do kind of guy.
“madpunter88 says:
January 4, 2010 1:44 PM
An electric smile and a pleasant demeanor? Chad Johnson has charisma? The guy is narcissistic and arrogant. He is a me-first player who cares more about his own superficial image than his team.
Housmanzadeh had a terrible season and made himself look bad with some of the things he said. But let’s not go crowning Chad Johnson as a model for NFL receivers.
Johnson is, by your description, pleasant and humorous only because his team is in the playoffs and winning. He has clearly demonstrated a habit of not being pleasant or humorous when not getting his way.
Chad Johnson allegedly punched one of his coaches in the locker room during a playoff game. How is that pleasant or humorous?”
He also purchased thousands of game tickets so a regular season game wouldn’t be blacked out for the entire local market, and gave those tickets to charities & underprivileged groups. Only player in NFL history I’ve known of that did that. He also does not get in trouble with the law, and that one halftime punch notwithstanding, has never been much of a cancer as a player in the lockerroom.
Yes, it’s all ‘cuz he was double-covered. Because I’m sure guys like Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Wes Welker, Sidney Rice and DeSean Jackson are NEVER double-covered. It’s a phenomenon exclusive to Housh.