Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks / Image: Zuma Press

Even with the impressive collection of healthy receivers the Hawks have on staff (T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, Deion Branch, Deon Butler, Billy McMullen), having a healthy Matt Hasselbeck is the straw that will stir this offensive drink under new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp. And Matt understands this:

“I hope everything’s in. The (play)book is so thick. I think what we’re trying to do now is just really install everything, see what works, see what fits the personnel. And Greg Knapp’s kind of going 100 miles an hour teaching it, coaching it. We’re just trying to learn it, practice it, get so it feels just like second nature.”

Source: The News Tribune

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Matt Hasselbeck’s Back is Better

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

It didn’t take long for the Cincinnati Bengals to replace T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Today, they added former N.Y. Jets receiver Laveranues Coles to their roster with a four-year, $28 million contract. Although I really can’t understand why anyone would want to play for the Bengals, Laveranues was genuinely excited to be with the team, who released this statement from LC:

“The Bengals were very aggressive right from the start in talking to us, and when a team makes you feel really wanted, that’s a factor you’re not going to ignore. They said, ‘Let’s get this worked out,’ and we did. I’m excited. I’m coming off a pretty good year, but I know I can do better. Anytime you come into a situation with a quarterback like Carson Palmer, you’re going to think you can bump up those numbers a little more.”

Laveranues has been around. He’s definitely in the latter stages of his NFL career. In fact, this will be his 10th season. But I think he’s got 50-75 receptions in him this year playing alongside Chad Johnson and catching passes from Carson Palmer. The Bengals are supposedly going to make a stronger commitment to the running game this season, but Laveranues gives them the solid #2 receiver they’ve been used to with T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He’s not Housh, but he’ll do his job and do it well.

Source: Bengals.com, Photo: Newscom

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Bengals Sign Laveranues Coles

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The Seattle Seahawks won the T.J. Houshmandzadeh sweepstakes today. The receiver-depleted Hawks offered Housh five years for $40 million with $15 million guaranteed and beat out the Vikings and Bengals (be serious) for his services. I think T.J. is definitely worth the money. He’s proven that on the field with 372 receptions over the past four years. No other player has caught more passes. He’s a bigger body receiver than his 6-1, 200 pound frame would indicate. He’s a guy who isn’t afraid of the middle of the field. He catches everything thrown at him. He runs good routes. He makes plays. So, he needed to get paid and he did what he felt was best for his career in choosing Seattle. There’s not much in the way of quotes yet, but T.J. did say:

“I just felt it was the best destination, it was the best team, it was the best choice for me.”

Well, obviously. And he might be right. A lot of folks felt Housh should’ve signed with the Vikings as they are supposedly poised to make a Super Bowl run, but I really don’t see it happening based on their offseason moves thus far. The Vikes completely overlooked better available free agent QBs — apparently opting to put their offense in the hands of unproven semi-journeyman quarterback Sage Rosenfels — and haven’t done anything to address their own dire need at the receiver position. At this time, Minnesota still doesn’t have a number one receiver and ultimately I don’t think they’ll be any better than they were last season. If they’re even that good. I would grade their offseason/FA work with an F at this point. As far as the Seahawks are concerned, they have much greater stability at the quarterback position with Matt Hasselbeck. Seattle doesn’t have the running game the Vikings do, but they do have the quarterback. For T.J., it was about more money and a better quarterback. Decisions, decisions. You do the math.

Source: ESPN.com, Photo: Newscom

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Seahawks Sign T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Finally, the other guys. After two weeks of going against teammates in training camp, all NFL clubs will be able to see a real, live opponent this weekend. It’s the first full weekend of NFL preseason football, bookended by nationally televised games tonight and Monday night.

Tonight – New Orleans at Arizona (ESPN, 8 p.m.) New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who has completed the most passes for the most yards in the NFL over the past two years, thinks there is always room for improvement — by himself and his team. He wants to get back to the playoffs. Arizona’s Matt Leinart returns from a broken collarbone suffered last October. He has spent camp perfecting head coach Ken Whisenhunt’s offense, a process that was interrupted last season.

Monday – Cincinnati at Green Bay (ESPN, 8 p.m.) For Green Bay, it will be the first outing as starting quarterback for Aaron Rodgers, the club’s first-round draft choice of 2005. Head coach Mike McCarthy will give Aaron plenty of playing time this summer, starting him in all four preseason games. The Bengals want to get things back to where they were in 2005, when they went 11-5 and won the AFC North. They think they are on the way with a No. 10 finish in total offense last season and a No. 7 in passing. Cincinnati has added to quarterback Carson Palmer’s top-flight receiving corps headed by Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and will use the preseason to work-in the newcomers. The Bengals signed tight end Ben Utecht from Indianapolis to strengthen their passing game down the middle, and rookie wideouts Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson have been strong in camp and will see plenty of action starting Monday.

Other Games to Check Out This Weekend

Tonight: N.Y. Giants at Detroit, Baltimore at New England, N.Y. Jets at Cleveland, Kansas City at Chicago; Friday: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, Seattle at Minnesota, San Francisco at Oakland; Saturday: Buffalo at Washington, Tampa Bay at Miami, Atlanta at Jacksonville, Indianapolis at Carolina, Denver at Houston, St. Louis at Tennessee, Dallas at San Diego.

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First Full Preseason Weekend Kicks Off

It was like icing on the cake for Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson’s incredible rookie season. AD walked away with Pro Bowl MVP honors today after ripping through the AFC defense for 129 yards and two TDs in the NFC’s 42-30 win. It was the first 100-yard rushing effort since Marshall Faulk (180 yards) and Chris Warren (127 yards) reached the mark in 1995. This award was on the heels of AD’s being named the NFL’s Rookie of the Year last month. And I learned that he brought every Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman with him (although G Steve Hutchinson and C Matt Birk were there courtesy of the NFL as Pro Bowl players) as a “thank you” for their help in his 1,341 yard season. I can’t wait to see what Adrian has in-store for next season. As long as he can stay injury free, there’s no limit to how good this guy can be.

As for the Pro Bowl game, it was pretty much as expected — a lot of offense. In fact, the teams combined for 48 points in the first half, tying a Pro Bowl record. The defense is at a real disadvantage in this game with not being able to play up on the receivers (outside of the five-yard-line). And they aren’t allowed to blitz. Obviously that rule is in effect to cut down on the risk of injury in a totally meaningless game, but it really puts the D in a bad position.

There were a lot of good individual efforts besides Adrian Peterson. Terrell Owens had eight catches for 101 yards and two TDs. T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught two TDs as well. Antonio Cromartie had two picks. And Antoine Bethea was in on nine tackles.

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Adrian Peterson Wins Pro Bowl MVP Award, Offenses Shine as NFC Beats AFC 42-30