Sports Radio Interviews

T.J. Houshmandzadeh Says He Didn’t Get the Ball Enough Last Year

Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was supposed to be one of the key offseason acquisitions last season. As a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, he hadn’t caught fewer than 90 passes in his previous three seasons and averaged more than eight touchdowns a year over that span.

With the Seattle Seahawks, he was supposed to be a prime weapon for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck as Seattle tried to vie for the NFC West crown. Instead, the Seahawks floundered and Houshmandzadeh finished with 78 catches, just three of them for touchdowns.

With a new coaching staff, all eyes are again on Houshmandzadeh, who says he didn’t get the ball enough in his first year out West.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh joined ESPN 710 in Seattle with Paul Silvi and Jim Moore to discuss the start of camp, T.O. and Chad Ochocinco in Cincinnati and his role in the offense.

On whether he believes Brett Favre will retire:

“I don’t think it’s true. I think he’s going to play. That’s just my opinion. I guess, when a guy says he’s going to retire two or three times, eventually you’ve got to believe him. Everybody thinks he’s coming back, so this’ll probably be the time he stays retired. But I think he’s going to play.”

On whether Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco can coexist in Cincinnati:

“Everybody can coexist if you’re winning. Winning cures a lot. T.O. worked out with us. We were working out the whole offseason and it just so happened that a couple of receivers didn’t show up to the workout and [Matt] Leinart called T.O. and he showed up about an hour late. Carson [Palmer] asked me after he left, ‘What do you think?’ One thing led to another and there you go. But, if you’re winning the game, if you’re winning, that solves a lot. I know Chad, he wants the ball. And T.O. wants the ball, and you want guys that want the ball. That’s what I would never understand. ‘Oh, he’s complaining because he wants the ball.’ Why wouldn’t he want the ball?”

On whether he believes the ball wasn’t thrown to him enough last year:

“Yeah. You’re correct. … It’s not a matter of being open, it’s a matter of, in this offense, certain plays are called, or in the offense last year, certain plays would be called, you know, ‘This is my play.’ If you’re a smart football player, a coverage, you know ‘This should be my ball.’ And if plays aren’t being called for you, there’s nothing you can do.”

On whether he’ll get more opportunities this year with a new coaching staff:

“Who knows? I would like to think I’m going to, but I have to show and I have to gain that trust that I should be getting those opportunities. That’s what I’ve gotta do.”

On his rapport with Matt Hasselbeck:

“We’re getting there. I’ve gotta get a little more reps … and just try to work myself into it a little more. I haven’t been taking many reps, and coming off of surgery they want to make sure that they don’t throw me into the fire. But I feel like I’m ready and I’ve got to get myself out there and ready to play.”

Listen to the entire interview with T.J. Houshmandzadeh on ESPN 710 in Seattle here (interview begins just past the 25:00 mark)

Tags: Brett Favre, Chad Ocho Cinco, NFL, Seattle Seahawks, T.J. Houshmandazdeh