Why The Eagles Should Not Go For T.J. Houshmandzadeh If He Is Available In FA?

There's been a lot of noise about T.J. coming to the Eagles after his interview this past week that suggested he is interested in the Eagles. Eagle fans everywhere including myself ears stood up and started hitting up every blog and Web site with "are you listening Andy" type comments and "McNabb must be jumping on his couch" after hearing this.

We think if we get T.J. in FA, McNabb will be getting a No. 1 wide receiver. Let us look beyond his comments and see why he may not be that No. 1 receiver we think he is. Also, there will be arguments why I think we should not go after him.

First, is he really a No. 1 receiver? According to different NFL sources, the top wide receivers in the NFL are Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, Andre Johnson, Steve Smith, Greg Jennings, Reggie Wayne, Anquan Boldin, Calvin Johnson, and Chad Johnson.

In the NFC East, I added the best wide receivers in our competitors teams to make my case that T.J. is not a No. 1 receiver (e.g. Terrell Owens, Santana Moss, and Plaxico Burress).

I looked at the total number of seasons these top wide receivers have played, the number of times they went over 1,000 yards and the number of times they scored over 7 receiving TDs. I then looked at the receivers that have played as much as or more seasons than T.J. to make the numbers comparable. The players and numbers are below:

1.) Randy Moss - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 9 of his 11 seasons in his NFL career (82%). He has scored 7 or more TDs in 10 out of his 11 seasons in the NFL (91%).

2.) Steve Smith - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 5 out of his 8 seasons in his NFL career (63%). He scored 7 or more TDs in 4 out of his 8 seasons in the NFL (50%).

3.) Reggie Wayne - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 5 out of his 8 seasons in his NFL career (63%). He has scored 7 or more TDs in 4 out of his 8 seasons in the NFL (50%).

4.) Terrell Owens - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 9 out of his 13 seasons in his NFL career (77%). He has scored 7 or more TDs in 10 out of his 13 seasons in the NFL (77%).

5.) Santana Moss - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 3 out of his 8 seasons in the NFL (38%). He has scored 7 or more TDs in 2 out of his 8 seasons in the NFL (25%).

6.) Plaxico Burress - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 4 out of his 9 seaons in the NFL (44%). He has scored 7 or more TDs in 4 out of his 9 seasons in the NFL (44%)

7.) Chad Johnson - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 6 out of his 8 seasons in the NFL (75%). He has scored 7 or more TDs in 5 out of his 8 seasons in the NFL (63%).

T.J. Houshmanzadeh - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 2 out of his 8 seaons in the NFL (25%). He has scored 7 or more TDS in 1 out of his 8 seasons in the NFL (13%).

To compare him vs. the pro-bowlers starters on this list, their numbers are below:

8.) Larry Fitz - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 3 out of his 5 seasons in the NFL (60%). He has scored 7 or more TDs in 5 out of his 5 seasons in the NFL (100%).

9.) Anquan Boldin - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 4 out of his 6 seasons in the NFL (67%). He has scored 7 or more TDs in 4 out of his 6 seasons in the NFL (67%).

10.) Andre Johnson - Has had 1,000 or more receiving yards in 3 out his 6 seasons in the NFL (50%). He has scored 7 or more TDs in 2 out of his 6 seasons (33%).

Is he really a No. 1 receiver with those numbers?

One can argue that he was injured in some years. Other receivers have had injuries also and if that is an argument, shouldn't his health be an issue rather an argument supporting why he has not had more 1,000 receiving yards?

Also, T.J. will turn 32 this year. If we don't make the superbowl in 2010, he will be 33 and we Eagles fans will start questioning his age and durability. If the Bengals franchise him, he will be offered a one year deal worth $9.88m. Will you want to offer him a multi-year deal where he will be making $8m-$9m a year?

Is he really a deep threat guy that McNabb can go to? I have not seen it yet, but what I do know is that he is a proven slot receiver which Kevin Curtis and Desean Jackson can do for us.

He has been with the Bengals for eight seasons and he does not have the reputation for being a guy that can work the outside or known as the guy that works the outside. There is a reason for that. This is the NFL and if you are good at something, you will placed in a position to help your team win.

I didn't do any spell check or grammar check, so excuse the mistakes.