Tag: T. J. Houshmandzadeh

T.J. Houshmandzadeh endorsed Tee Higgins to Bengals before draft

T.J. Houshmandzadeh played a small part in the Cincinnati Bengals drafting Tee Higgins.

[jwplayer NbHm3jlP]

T.J. Houshmandzadeh hasn’t been shy about his praise for Cincinnati Bengals second-round pick Tee Higgins.

After the Bengals drafted Higgins, word got out Housh believes Higgins can be a top wideout in the NFL. The way he described him sure sounds like A.J. Green.

And it just so happens Bengals personnel called Housh before the draft and he offered up similar thoughts.

Pro scouting director Steven Radicevic revealed the following in an interview with  Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic:

“I ended up calling T.J. (Houshmandzadeh) because he’s been working out with Higgins. He raved about him and pretty much said he’s the next A.J. Just gushing over him. He felt he was the next best receiver behind (Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy). Same thing we all saw on film: For how big he is, it’s rare how well he can get out of cuts. How he can decelerate. Said he’s way faster than what he ran.”

It’s only fitting Housh has some experience with Higgins after he’s worked with John Ross and other Bengals in the past. That he was able to confirm firsthand what the Bengals saw on film was a pretty big deal.

And don’t understate the value of Housh’s opinion of Higgins the person during an offseason where player meets were canceled. The Clemson star did meet the Bengals — but a second opinion closer to the draft sure probably didn’t hurt.

One of the most common pro comparisons for Higgins was A.J. Green. If Housh is saying it too — and to Bengals personnel — it’s certainly reason for excitement. And it’s also easy to see why Radicevic straight-up said they didn’t think there was any way Higgins would fall out of Round 1.

[vertical-gallery id=32154]

T.J. Houshmandzadeh says Tee Higgins can be a top NFL WR

T.J. Houshmandzadeh has big praise for Cincinnati Bengals draft pick Tee Higgins.

[jwplayer X7qvZMNC-ThvAeFxT]

T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s name has come up often in recent years surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals thanks to his work with John Ross.

And it turns out he’s put in some work with Bengals second-round pick Tee Higgins, too.

Because of course he has.

Houshmandzadeh says Higgins — who put up 25 touchdowns over two seasons before landing with his favorite NFL team — can end up as one of the NFL’s best, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

“(Ross) watched (Higgins) and said, ‘Damn, he reminds me of A.J.. He’s big and he can run routes and that’s all you have to say. Not many big guys can routes coming out like that. We worked on it, but what really impresses me is how he can drive his hips and create separation. That’s what running routes is all about. If he reaches his potential, he’ll be mentioned when they talk about the three or four best receivers in the league.”

Housh also says Higgins is quiet but coachable — which sure sounds quite a bit like A.J. Green. And adding to that thought, Higgins has made it clear he models everything after Green.

Call this great news for one Joe Burrow, who gets to throw to Ross, Green and Higgins next year. If Housh is right and Higgins really goes the Green route, the 2020 class will certainly go down as a turning point for the Bengals.

[vertical-gallery id=31147]

T.J. Houshmandzadeh says Bengals should consider trading No. 1 for historic return

T. J. Houshmandzadeh has an interesting take on the Bengals trading the Joe Burrow pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

T. J. Houshmandzadeh will once again possibly play a role for the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason, this time ahead of the 2020 NFL draft via Joe Burrow.

Houshmandzadeh has had an influence on the Bengals in the past, perhaps most prominently while he helped train John Ross.

Now Houshmandzadeh has revealed he’ll work with Jordan Palmer on Joe Burrow, the likely first overall pick by the Bengals.

But Houshmandzadeh had a noteworthy opinion when asked about the idea of the Bengals trading the No. 1 pick — and likey the rights to Burrow — in exchange for draft picks, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

“Do I want to draft him if I’m the Bengals? Yeah. But if the Dolphins are going to offer me three first-rounders, or if some team is going to offer me two first-rounders this year and a first-rounder next year, I have to strongly consider it for the good of the team. …

“I’m friends with the Browns. Mike, Troy and Katie and Paul. People still connect me with the Bengals. I would like to see them do well. That’s why I say, if you can get picks, you have to consider it. If not, you draft Joe and you hope it works out.”

Houshmandzadeh makes it clear the Bengals should go get Burrow if they think he’s the guy. But he sets the asking price of three first-round picks as what might make him pause.

Should it? Maybe. But while a trio of first-round selections would be nice, the Super Bowl just showed a Patrick Mahomes outweighs a defensive line littered with first-round prospects. And trading out of No. 1 also means missing on the storyline that is an in-state product like Burrow coming home with a chance to save the franchise.

Like Houshmandzadeh admits, it’s a tough call.

[vertical-gallery id=27560]

T. J. Houshmandzadeh helping train Joe Burrow ahead of 2020 NFL draft

T. J. Houshmandzadeh will help train probable Bengals pick Joe Burrow.

The links to the Cincinnati Bengals just keep growing.

Former Bengals star T. J. Houshmandzadeh will work alongside Jordan Palmer and others while helping LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with his pre-2020 NFL draft training in the coming weeks and months.

Houshmandzadeh chatted with Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com on the topic:

“If I can drop him a nugget, help show him what an NFL receiver sees, every little bit helps. It showed his pocket presence and his ability to scramble and pass and run was impressive early on and that pretty much held true the rest of the season.”

Houshmandzadeh has been a mainstay around the Bengals in recent years, especially when he helped train up John Ross.

Ross has accredited his success in part to those training sessions with Houshmandzadeh.

Houshmandzadeh, while revealing this bit of news, noted he doesn’t think recent comments by Carson Palmer will impact much of anything when it comes to Burrow’s future.

“We’ve talked about it. We’re not going to say anything negative to Joe about the Bengals. Why would we?” Houshmandzadeh asked. “Teams are bad because their players aren’t good enough. If they get that player that’s good enough, guess what happens? Your team isn’t so bad anymore. I’m sure that’s what they’re thinking. I’m sure that’s what Joe thinks. Negative? Not at all.”

[vertical-gallery id=27560]

T. J. Houshmandzadeh doesn’t think Joe Burrow can do what Carson Palmer couldn’t

T. J. Houshmandzadeh had some interesting comments on Joe Burrow.

Former Cincinnati Bengals wideout T. J. Houshmandzadeh is the latest to offer some interesting comments on Joe Burrow, looping in Carson Palmer in the process.

Speaking on Speak For Yourself, Houshmandzadeh said he thinks the Bengals and Burrow are a good fit largely because the Heisman winner believes he can turn the team around and wants to be that guy:

“…I know I’ve talked to people that say Carolina’s gonna try to get (Joe Burrow) , that Joe Brady really wants him. I know that to be fact. I don’t know Joe Burrow. I’ll get to know him as he starts preparing for the draft. But what I will say is this: the people that I’ve talked to him that know him, this doesn’t surprise me. They say this dude is full of confidence. He’s looking at it like, man, the Bengals are in the basement. Not if — when I bring them to the top — look how I’m gonna look. I’m just the guy for the job. That’s his mentality. …”

But Houshmandzadeh slapped a big disclaimer on that, saying that while he likes the attitude, he doesn’t think Burrow can do it if Palmer couldn’t:

“If Carson (Palmer) couldn’t do it, I don’t think anybody can do it.”

Houshmandzadeh is always going to go to bat for his guy, Palmer. But one could argue Palmer did plenty to help the franchise turn around before stepping back and demanding his trade.

Palmer has had some interesting thoughts of his own about Burrow already.

Given the way things have aligned, Houshmandzadeh and everyone else might find out soon if Burrow has what it takes.

[vertical-gallery id=27041]