Houshmandzadeh sleeps on his decision

The Vikings have made their pitch to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Now all they can do is wait.

After meeting with team officials for 5 1/2 hours Sunday at Winter Park, the top wide receiver on the NFL's free-agent market told his agent he needed to sleep on his decision. He left the Twin Cities on Sunday night and presumably will make a decision today.

The three-team race for Houshmandzadeh includes the Vikings, Bengals and Seahawks. The financial factor likely will play a significant role in his decision. Houshmandzadeh, who has spent his entire eight-year career with the Bengals, is believed to have received more lucrative offers from both Cincinnati and Seattle.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported the Bengals are offering a deal that exceeds the five-year, $35 million contract ($11 million guaranteed) the Giants gave wide receiver Plaxico Burress last September and the five-year, $33 million extension Pittsburgh gave Hines Ward. The Seahawks and Vikings are thought to be both offering three-year contracts, with Seattle coming in about $2 million higher than the Vikings.

Considering Houshmandzadeh turns 32 in September, the security of the Bengals deal might be too great to pass up. He also is being urged by Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer to remain with the team, according to an ESPN report.

Houshmandzadeh reportedly entered free agency looking for a three- to four-year deal at upwards of $10 million per season. He had said Saturday he hoped to make his decision by Sunday evening, but ultimately he needed more time.

He spent much of Sunday getting a look at the Vikings' facility in Eden Prairie and finally departed Winter Park at 4 p.m. in a limousine.

Houshmandzadeh, who played at Oregon State, visited Seattle on Friday before being brought to the Twin Cities on Saturday in one of Vikings owner Zygi Wilf's private jets. He then was taken to an upscale Minneapolis restaurant and dined in a private room with a group that included coach Brad Childress, wide receivers coach George Stewart and Rick Spielman, vice president of player personnel.

Vikings executives were believed to be optimistic that they would land Houshmandzadeh and clearly did not want him to leave town without signing. Negotiations between Houshmandzadeh's agent, Kennard McGuire, and the Vikings have been ongoing.

Houshmandzadeh is a two-time 1,000-yard receiver and has caught at least 90 passes each of the past three seasons. His 294 catches since 2006 are the most in the NFL. The Vikings have not had a receiver catch 90 passes since Randy Moss caught 111 in 2003.

One thing that might be in the Vikings' favor is the fact that of the three teams Houshmandzadeh is considering, they probably have the most immediate upside. The Vikings won the NFC North title at 10-6. Cincinnati finished 4-11-1 and Seattle went 4-12. The biggest question for Houshmandzadeh in relation to the Vikings is who would get him the football?

Newly acquired Sage Rosenfels is expected to battle Tarvaris Jackson for the starting quarterback job, but neither is proven in the NFL. Houshmandzadeh is coming off a season in which he had a team-leading 92 receptions for 904 yards and four touchdowns. The Bengals used two quarterbacks last season, with Ryan Fitzpatrick seeing extensive time in place of the injured Palmer.

Houshmandzadeh's advantage to being part of the Vikings offense would be getting a chance to play with Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson. Houshmandzadeh talked about the advantage of playing with the NFL's leading rusher on Friday morning during an appearance on ESPN.

"If I can play with Adrian Peterson, can you imagine what I would do getting 1-on-1 coverage?" Houshmandzadeh said.

While Houshmandzadeh is not a big-time downfield threat, he could provide a nice complement to Bernard Berrian. Berrian, who finished first in the NFL in yards per catch at 20.1 yards last season, signed a six-year, $42 million free-agent contract last March that calls for $16 million in guarantees.