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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > August > 21 > Entry
The great ‘T.J. controversy’
HOUSHMANDZADEH’S
‘SANDBAGGING’ HURTS
HIMSELF & THE TEAM
===LUDWIG AT LARGE sees trouble on the horizon. Publicly, T.J. Houshmandzadeh is saving himself for the grueling regular season. Privately, he’s staging a protest over his contract, which runs out at the end of the year. If he looks over his shoulder, he’ll find that rookie second-round draft pick Jerome Simpson is gaining on him. My advice to T.J.: “Get your butt on the practice field and start getting your timing and rhythm down with QB Carson Palmer … before it’s too late.”===
There’s an old saying about trusting your gut … and my gut tells me that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh is sandbagging his hamstring “injury” because he’s upset the club hasn’t renegotiated and extended his contract.
He sees hefty extensions for defensive tackle Domata Peko and offensive guard Andrew Whitworth and wonders, “Why not me?”
Houshmandzadeh ran numerous 60-yard sprints — effortlessly — along the sidelines prior to Sunday night’s debacle against Detroit, yet he still refuses to practice. It’s his version of a personal protest.
And because he refuses to practice, he won’t play on Saturday night against the New Orleans Saints.
Houshmandzadeh’s disdain for training camp is no secret.
A year ago, I asked T.J. his opinion on the most senseless activity or drill at training camp.
His response:
“Everything that has to do with putting shoulder pads on. The most senseless thing is not even a drill. Two-a-days. Two practices in one day. It’s uncalled for. Boxers don’t spar twice a day. If they do, they’re going to get knocked out. Sprinters that want the Olympics, they don’t train twice a day. If they do, they’re going to be fatigued when the Olympics come around. Horses don’t train twice a day, do they? If they do, it’s not two hard workouts like training camp. Football’s the only sport where you go twice a day and tear your body down. If you come in at a ‘10,’ you just hope that when training camp is over, you’re at a ‘6’ or ‘7.’ “
Houshmandzadeh’s contract runs out after this season. He needs a big year to get a new deal … either here or elsewhere. He’s not only hurting the team, the offense and QB Carson Palmer by refusing to practice, he’s hurting himself.
You could hear the frustration in head coach Marvin Lewis’ voice when Dave Lapham — the analyst on the Bengals radio network — asked about Rudi Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Both are nursing alleged hamstring tweaks. Lap’s question: “How much practice time does Rudi and T.J. need in order to get in sync with Palmer and the offense before the season-opener at Baltimore on Sept. 7?”
IN MARVIN’S WORDS:
“I think T.J. needs more time than he thinks he needs, I’ll tell you that. I think for the runner, it’s not quite as significant. We want to see him (Rudi) and make sure he can withstand it.
“I think for T.J., there’s more to it. Things change, things have changed. When you’re not out there and doing it, things move within the snap of the football, so it’s important T.J. gets some snaps going and gets going here. He’s a very smart guy. He understands football very well and understands the offense and the nuances of what we’re doing very well. But until you’re doing it, there’s going to be some things … Now, you start working to a gameplan and everything’s limited and it comes down, but yeah, it’s important for them to get some snaps and some time.”
LUDWIG AT LARGE loves T.J. He’s an outstanding player and person. He’s a tough & fearless receiver who takes care of his body as well as anybody in the locker room. But his refusal to practice is uncalled for. You don’t just snap your fingers and, like magic, turn your game up to its highest level. Even a Pro Bowler needs work.
This is just one more example of why the Bengals will probably be sitting home in January.
Too much bickering over “my next contract,” and not enough pulling together and working toward the common goal of reaching the Super Bowl.
Too much “I.” Not enough “We.”
Too much “Hollywood.” Not enough “Cincinnati.”
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Comments
By Brian
August 21, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
Or maybe he’s really hurt and working it out. Hamstring injuries are tricky to overcome. My biggest problem with your argument is that T.J. is in an outstanding position heading into free agency. The Bengals will almost certainly have to franchise tag Stacy Andrews again next season, so T.J. doesn’t have that hanging over him. It’s really in his best interest to have a HUGE season to not only cash in on the open market, but escape the Bengals’ culture of losing. T.J. is too smart to sabotage himself like that.By J.W. Smith
August 21, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Anybody else notice Carson’s freudian slip the other day? In his locker room interview he said “CONTRACT drills” instead of “contact drills” when talking about TJ and Chad. Very telling. I’m sure Carson is thoroughly frustrated with those two.By scott
August 21, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
I think you’re on the money on this one.By Daryl
August 21, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
Everybody’s so upset with Chris Henry the real issue is TJ being an A*S. Chuck hit it on the mark. TJ’s a smart guy but I think he will outsmart himself in the end.By JimB
August 21, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Chick, I hope you’re wrong. Unfortunately, you are probably correct. I was unaware that TJ was running 60 yd. sprints so easily, and it really disappoints me that he might be sandbaggint it. Certainly not the kind of behavior you want to see from a pro bowl teammate when you want to make the playoffs.By jeff
August 21, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
I agree he should be out there but in this league there is plenty of “I”. Strahan did the same thing last year and he was fine. There are tons of players who loaf in the preseason only to have big years. TJ will be out there on Monday or Tuesday next week. Mark my words and no one works harder. Now that I am older I understand that these guys contracts are not guranteed. If he pops his ACL in these “preseason” games his value is crap. The one thing about Housh is that he is a smart guy, he isn’t going to risk anything before the seasonBy Wolverine
August 21, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Can we please stop this whole “Ludwig at Larger” and all the other stupid gimmicks the DDN has come up with? These guys are not good writers. That’s why they are in Dayton. But their so-called journalism is nothing more than juvenile. Please quit the gimmicks!By Chick Ludwig
August 21, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Careful, Mr. Wolverine. If you don’t behave, I’ll sic my “Blog Bouncer” cousin Pat from Okeana, OH-IO, on you…so BEWARE! And one other thing: I choose to live & work in Dayton, Ohio. Thanks for your readership and support, and for making “Ludwig At Large” part of your day…every day. All the best, ChickBy Pete
August 21, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
You hit it spot on again, Chick. It’s interesting that he’s got these hamstring issues now. Yet, he didn’t attend the voluntary mini-camps because he was training on his own. Just WTF was his training regamin during that time? I don’t give a flyin’ rats pattoot what he thinks about 2-a-days, or his dumbA$$ analogies that go along w/ it. He’s showing his true colors just like CJ, CH, et al. And that, Bungals fans, is why this circus of clowns will not do a damn thing again this year.By Steve F
August 21, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Mike Brown knows exactly what he is doing signing Henry. By mid October he will know how the TJ and Chad situation is working out. If one or both are not playing he has Henry as a back up and Carson loves Henry. I bet Mike Brown already knows who will still be here this time next year.By janeen
August 21, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
I am tired of these whiny babies who are grown men who have signed a contract to do a job. You are being paid and you owe your full commitment to those that butter your bread. Ever heard the saying”an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work?” If you have to practice twice a day, so be it, it is what you are paid to do.By Roho Radio
August 21, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
It should be fun yelling at the TV again this year as the Bengals roar to a 5-11 record.By Derrick
August 21, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
Personally I am tired of all “professional” athletes and their prima donna antics. I also agree that contract envy is a big part of the Bengal’s plight.By tony
August 21, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
There goes Chick and the cincinnati right wing media making S#$T up again. You see, this is why “star athletes” hate Cincinnati. As much as we dont want to believe it, BIG DADDY WILKERSON was right. This city has ISSUES and this blogcrap entry proves. Geta life Chick.By me first
August 21, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
Change the name of the team to Me onlyBy Gary
August 21, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
Again, you have a serious problem. You seem to continually find conspiracies and the negative aspect of all Bengal situations. My take on TJ is that he seems very professional and a person of integrity. “He” is not refusing to practice. The training & medical staff let Marvin know whether the player is ready. Again, as usual, you are way off base.By Jo Jo is RIght
August 21, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
Chick I can open a can of Whoop A$s on these watercooler experts if you want. Yea Chick is just making it up. If you knew anything about football and the disfunction junction that is the Bengals, you would understand. Obviously your ability to think past your nose is limited. TJ sat and listened to Chad whine, and now he wants his piece of the action.By Kevin
August 21, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
Tony; You show your ignorance of the past as well as the present situation. It was “Big Daddy Wilkinson,” not “Wilkerson.” That wasn’t the most stupid thing you said though…By imajean
August 22, 2008 6:29 AM | Link to this
Avacados are sillyBy imajean
August 22, 2008 6:29 AM | Link to this
Avacados are sillyBy IRMA
August 22, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this
GO BROWNSBy TJ
August 22, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
What a terrible article, he contradicts himself a hundred times. Housh obviously has seen his whole team fold and get hurt in the three previous preseasons, hes not going to risk that when the is no reward for doing it, except to shut these blog writers up. But most of us realize why he isnt out there, hes not going to risk it. Look what happened to Chad when he tried to go out there and be a superhero. Hes know going to be sitting the bench the first couple of games. Can you make sense of that CHICK?By Skrotem
August 22, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
This is just a bunch of fabricated bull honky that probably has no validity. Chick, it’s obvious you are one of the many paranoid conspiracy theorists that Southwest Ohio so amply boasts. This false sense of spot-on, profound thinking is exactly what’s wrong with Cincinnati fans. They get fixated on a ridiculous idea and because they’re so scared and upset that the rest of the world thinks they’re retarded redneck losers, they feel they have to puff their chest out and act like they really know what’s going on and how to fix it. It kills me that because I root for Cincy teams I have to put up with this garbage that undoubtedly turns star athletes against me even though I show undying support out of love for the game.By Frederick
August 24, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
This team’s ‘window of opportunity’ is gone. It didn’t happen.By ๅฝ้็ตๅฉ
September 23, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
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