Four Downs while admitting I don't have the answer to those who have asked why the Vikings didn't pursue T.J. Houshmandzadeh ...
FIRST DOWN:
The Vikings need a receiver. Badly. T.J. Houshmandzadeh was available for 850 grand for one season. Yet the Vikings took a pass? I'm with you guys. I don't get it.
The Vikings liked Housh well enough to pursue him like mad before the 2009 season.It didn't work out financially, so Housh went to Seattle and the Vikings ended up drafting Percy Harvin instead.
That's what I'd call an A-plus end result for the Vikings.
But how do you pass up Housh a year later when all it costs is 850 grand and you have four receivers on your roster? Seattle is on the hook for the other $6 million or so that Housh is guaranteed?
I thought maybe the Vikes passed because Housh had lost a step last year. He is getting old, you know. I also thought maybe his personality would be too much of a distraction for Brad Childress. But that doesn't explain the Vikings' interest a year ago.
I wasn't ready to declare passing on Housh a mistake until he signed with the Ravens. To hear Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome rave about Housh makes me think the Vikings should have gone after him. The fact Ozzie likes him and has added him to an offense that already has a No. 1 receiver and a young quarterback makes me think he would have looked pretty good playing alongside Favre.