T.J. Houshmandzadeh On Seahawks: 'Nobody On That Team Beat Me Out'

New Baltimore Ravens wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh tells Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun that non-football reasons that the led the Seattle Seahawks to release him.

“This is my opinion: me not being there, I can promise you, had nothing to do with football. Not in my opinion,” he said. “Nobody on that team beat me out. [If] they’re honest with themselves, they know that. If you watch practice, it’s obvious, but whatever reason, they did what they did. I’m not going to comment on it and get to throwing rocks because I just don’t want to. But that’s what they felt like they needed to do. You guys will see what I can do. I’m very confident in myself and people say I’m probably too confident in myself, but I don’t care because I believe in myself. I kind of got disappointed with what happened in Seattle, but I know I can play. I know I can get it done. They know I can get it done. What they did, I don’t really want to comment on because it makes me really upset. But it happened.”

Schefter: T.J. Houshmandzadeh Signs With Baltimore Ravens

Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was released by the team over the weekend, has been picked up by the Baltimore Ravens, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Houshmandzadeh joins former Seattle Seahawk defensive back Josh Wilson in Baltimore. Wilson was traded to the Ravens last week for a conditional draft pick.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh Cut By Seahawks

ESPN’s Chris Mortenson reports on Twitter that Seattle Seahawks wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh has been released by the team.

Fox's Jay Glazer is also reporting the release.

There will be no Houshmandzadeh trade.

Report: Seahawks Have Received Houshmandzadeh Trade Proposals From 4 Teams

Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports on Twitter that the Seattle Seahawks have received trade proposals from four teams for wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The Seahawks put Houshmandzadeh on the trade block earlier this week.

However, a StarTribune.com report says the Minnesota Vikings are not interested in Houshmandzadeh.

Meanwhile, Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times reports on Twitter that "Houshmandzadeh is flying out of Seattle (literally) Friday night."

NFL.com: Three 'Possible Landing Spots' Teams For T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Jason La Canfora of NFL.com links three teams as potential future homes for Seahawks wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh now that the Seahawks have decided to cut ties with him.

Possible landing spots for Houshmandzadeh include the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings.

Dave Krieg's Strike Beard: Cutting Ties With T. J. Houshmandzadeh Prevents Future Headaches

Seattle Seahawks Blog Dave Krieg’s Strike Beard isn’t a fan of the Seahawks’ decision to cut ties with wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but the site does believe the move could prevent future locker room headaches.

Let’s also say that if the season went south, he started squawking about wanting the ball more, or wanting to be traded to a contender. These are headaches for a team that is looking to get young, and start fresh. The Seahawks are still on the hook for whatever part of $7 million Housh doesn’t get from another team, but presumably this move will save a bit of money as well.

Pro Football Talk 'Loves' The Idea Of Cutting Ties With T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Gregg Rosenthal of ProFootballTalk.com co-signs Seattle’s decision to cut ties with talented (and expensive) wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, citing the need to clean house and open up minutes for younger players.

Some may think Carroll is crazy, but it doesn’t hurt to have courage with your convictions. [Mike] Williams has looked excellent all offseason long and provides a similar possession receiver skill set to Houshmandzadeh.

If Williams doesn’t work out, the team still has youngsters Deon Butler and Golden Tate behind him. It’s a new era in Seattle, and the team can’t get rid of former G.M. Tim Ruskell’s mistakes fast enough.

Rosenthal also notes that the Seahawks will be able to save a portion of Houshmandzadeh’s contract if and when he is signed by another team. So, while money may not be the major driver of this decision, it probably does play a role.

NFL.com: Houshmandzadeh Trade Market Is 'Very Limited'

Jason La Canfora of NFL.com reports that, while the Seattle Seahawks aim to move wide receiver T.J. Shoushmandzadeh via trade, there don’t seem to be a lot of takers.

The market for Houshmandzadeh is very limited, according to the sources, for the same reason the Seahawks are looking to move him — his salary. Houshmandzadeh is guaranteed to earn more than $7 million this season and is coming off an unproductive year. Executives with teams that are in the market for receivers say they have no interest in taking on Houshmandzadeh’s contract.

As noted earlier, if Houshmandzadeh cannot be traded the Seahawks will reportedly eat his contract and release him.

Johns: Houshmandzadeh Move About System And Culture Fit

Greg Johns of the Seattle PI has confirmed Adam Schefter’s report that the Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh will soon part ways.

Johns tries to explain the reasoning behind this surprising development.

The move isn’t about money, but more about Carroll looking for his kind of players with a new offensive system and his “I’m in” approach in the locker room.

The Seahawks are on the hook for Houshmandzadeh’s $7 million contract this season unless they can trade him to another team, a deal that likely would involve Seattle absorbing some of that money.

Schefter: Seahawks, T.J. Houshmandzadeh To Part Ways

Whether by trade or by outright release, the Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh appear set to part ways before the 2010 season.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has the details.

The Seattle Seahawks will cut ties with T.J. Houshmandzadeh by trading or releasing him, according to two league sources, and it will promote former Detroit first-round draft pick Mike Williams into its starting lineup for a Sept. 12 game against San Francisco.

Good news for Williams, but this move doesn’t make Seattle better in the short-term. An offseason of perplexing moves continues for the Seahawks.

For more on the Seahawks, check out SB Nation’s Field Gulls.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh Sounds Pissed About Trade Talks

Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune caught up with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, whose name bubbled up in trade talk on Thursday, and lets just say he doesn’t sound super thrilled to be on the block.

“If Pete (head coach Pete Carroll) feels like that makes them better, then I’ll be somewhere else,” Houshmandzadeh said. “It’s as simple as that. I can’t control it. I’m the type of dude where it doesn’t bother me because I can’t control it, but it does bother me because nobody said anything to me, and nobody has said anything to me.

“And I’ve got a wife and kids that are coming up to Seattle, and now that’s not going to happen because of what you hear. And so I’ll just play everything by ear.”

The good news for Houshmandzadeh – and his wife, and his kids – is that his guaranteed $7 million contract is tough to move and there don’t seem to be a lot of takers. Gregg Rosenthal of ProFootballTalk sums it up nicely…

It’s not that no one wants Houshmandzadeh. No one wants him for $7 million guaranteed — except former Seahawks G.M. Tim Ruskell.

Rumor: Vincent Jackson To Seattle?

With reports indicating the Seahawks are looking to trade T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Minnesota Star-Tribune reporter Judd Zulgad wonders if dumping Houshmandzadeh is an effort to clear room for San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson.

Seattle Seahawks Trade Rumors: Seahawks Looking To Trade Houshmandzadeh

Rumors have been swirling about Seahawks wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh's role on the roster as Seattle inches closer to the NFL cut deadline, and it appears the Hawks are trying to figure out what to do with their high-priced receiver.

NFL.com reporter Jason La Canfora adds fuel to the fire today, reporting that the Hawks are actively shopping Houshmandzadeh.

It's obviously unlikely that they actually move Houshmandzadeh, but it is interesting that they're looking to make a clean break from the veteran wide receiver.

If they're shopping him now, will they end up cutting him Saturday? We'll find out as the Seahawks begin making the 22 cuts necessary to meet the 53-man roster deadline.

For more on the Seahawks, check out SB Nation's Field Gulls.

Seahawks Transactions: Seattle Adds Defensive End James Wyche

Curtis Crabtree of 950 KJR In Seattle notes that the Seahawks have added defensive end James Wyche to the roster after trading cornerback Josh Wilson to the Baltimore Ravens for a draft pick.

Wyche, drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2006 out of Syracuse, was signed briefly by the Houston Texans in August and has only appeared in three NFL games, all in 2009.

Morgan: 'Seattle Is Worse Today' Thanks To Josh Wilson Trade

John Morgan of SB Nation’s FieldGulls.com has weighed in on the Seattle Seahawks Josh Wilson trade and he’s added a strong voice to the litany (here, here and here) expressing disapproval.

Josh Wilson was my second favorite Seahawk, for whatever that’s worth. He is an excellent nickelback, a sound and sometimes punishing open field tackler (Wilson forced three fumbles in 2008) that has shown improving cover skills. His tools, minus his height, are off the charts. He ran a legitimate 4.39 forty at the 2007 NFL Combine. That showing bests all defensive backs in the 2010 class. Every single one of them. 58 of the very best talents in college football, inclluding Eric Berry, Earl Thomas and Taylor Mays, and not one ran a faster forty than Wilson. He also flashed a 36.5 inch vertical, popped 20 reps on the bench and scored a 29 on the Wonderlic.

Seattle just turned what every team hopes a second-round pick can become into a fifth-round pick. The Seahawks secondary is young and deep. The recovery of Walter Thurmond and emergence of Roy Lewis means Seattle is dealing from a position of strength. That, Wilson’s looming contract, and a narrow commitment to “building through the draft” is the justification for this move. A realistic evaluation of Wilson’s talent and the true value of a fifth-round pick is the damning reality.

Seattle is worse today than it was yesterday. Much worse.

For everything Seattle Seahawks, head over to SB Nation’s Field Gulls.

Seahawks Brass Defends Josh Wilson Trade By Pointing To Depth

Earlier we noted that questions are raining down on the Seattle Seahawks for trading cornerback Josh Wilson. The Seahawks have called a press conference to explain the move, and general manager John Schneider pointed to the team's depth at the position as the reason Wilson became expendable.

Greg Johns of SeattlePI.com quotes Schneider on Twitter.

Curtis Crabtree of KJR 950 tweeted that Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was singing the same tune as Schneider.

Crabtree also noted that Schneider said that the play of defensive backs Walter Thurmond and Marcus Trufant, in particular, contributed to the decision to trade Josh Wilson.

 Everett Herald reporter John Boyle dictated the impending roster changes caused by the trade.

One footnote: Boyle also noted that Schneider made reference to Wilson's contract status and that it was a factor in the trade decision.  Wilson is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season so this trade likely represents an attempt by the organization to get something of value in return for him before he requires a new contract (or walks).

Josh Wilson Trade Continues To Spark Questions For Seahawks

We noted earlier that the Seattle Seahawks are catching heat from all sides over their trade of cornerback Josh Wilson to the Baltimore Ravens.

Mike Salk of "Brock and Salk" has added his voice to the chorus expressing confusion.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times expands on the youth movement theory we mentioned earlier, shedding some light on exactly why the Seahawks would move such a valued piece.

Seattle did not believe the difference between Wilson and Kelly Jennings was so great to warrant turning down a fifth-round pick to keep Wilson for the final year of his contract.

The biggest winner in this move, though? Roy Lewis. The former Washington Husky played extremely well in the exhibition season, but he appeared in danger of getting caught in a numbers game with the Seahawks unlikely to keep four cornerbacks. Now, Lewis is a strong bet to make the team.

Baltimore Ravens Are Feeling Great About Josh Wilson Trade

While the Seattle Seahawks are busy getting destroyed for trading cornerback Josh Wilson to the Ravens, things are looking pretty good on the Baltimore side. 

NFL.com's Jason La Canfora summarizes the generally positive sentiment around the move for Baltimore.

Mike Duffy over at BaltimoreRavens.com has statements from Ravens Vice President and General Manager Ozzie Newsome, who sounds downright tickled.

"Josh is someone who has started a lot of games for a young player, plus he has been a good special teams player both as a kick returner and in coverages," said Ravens Executive Vice President and General Manager Ozzie Newsome.  "He adds depth to our secondary and will help us. Pending his physical, we expect Josh to be taking snaps against the Jets on opening night."

SB Nation's FieldGulls.com Slams Josh Wilson Trade

Writing on SB Nation’s FieldGulls.com, Vasili notes that the Seahawks trade of cornerback Josh Wilson to Baltimore comes as a surprise and doesn’t make a lot of sense.

If anyone can make any sense of this incineration of value then feel free to help us out, I can’t make heads or tails from it.

It does look like the team likes Walter Thurmond (and Roy Lewis, presumably), and that’s fine. Pete, you inherited this roster and we get that not all the players are off your choice. What I don’t get is:
a) unlike Tapp and Jackson, there’s nothing wrong with Josh Wilson playing in this defensive system, he fits it fine.
b) if you have to get rid of players, can you really, honestly do no better than this piddling return from a team desperate for cornerbacks?

For everything Seattle Seahawks, head over to SB Nation’s Field Gulls.

Reports: Seahawks Confirm CB Josh Wilson Traded To Baltimore

Earlier we noted an ESPN report that the Seattle Seahawks had traded cornerback Josh Wilson to the Batlimore Ravens for a conditional draft pick. Mulitple sources (here, here and here) are now reporting that the Seahawks have confirmed the trade is complete.

The early consensus regarding the move is summed up nicely by Mike Sando of ESPN, who writes that trading Wilson for a pick doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, although it does signal a youth movement.

Wilson, generally regarded as the second-best corner on the Seahawks’ roster behind Marcus Trufant, also carried value as a return specialist. That’s why the Seahawks could come under criticism from a pure personnel standpoint if injuries or other circumstances create a need at the position this season.

This move doesn’t make the Seahawks better in 2010, at least in my view. Jennings has durability issues and he lacks size to match up in a division featuring physical receivers. What this move suggests, on the surface, is that coach Pete Carroll thinks rookie Walter Thurmond and possibly third-year pro Roy Lewis figure prominently into the team’s immediate plans.

Report: Seahawks Trade CB Josh Wilson To Ravens

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports on Twitter that the Seattle Seahawks have traded cornerback Josh Wilson to the Baltimore Ravens.

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk fills in the details.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Ravens traded a conditional fifth-round pick to the Seahawks for cornerback Josh Wilson. The pick could become a fourth-rounder, depending on how many games Wilson starts in Baltimore.

Wilson started 12 games in each of the last two seasons for the Seahawks.    

NFL Roster Moves: Seahawks Place CB Josh Pinkard On Non-Football Injured Reserve List

In order to make room for the addition of tackle Tyler Polumbus, Greg Johns is reporting the Seahawks have placed cornerback Josh Pinkard on the non-football injured reserve list.

Pinkard was signed as an undrafted free-agent out of USC, but has been hampered with knee injuries suffered during his playing days in Southern California.

The Seahawks will continue to make moves ahead of Saturday's 53-man roster deadline.

For more on the Seahawks, visit SB Nation's Field Gulls.

Seahawks Transactions: Seattle Trades For Tackle Tyler Polumbus

Looking to shore up the depth on the offensive line, the Seattle Seahawks traded for Detroit tackle Tyler Polumbus. The Lions and Seahawks both made claims on Polumbus after the tackle was placed on waivers by Denver earlier this week.

The Detroit Free Press reports conditions of the trade are unknown, but that Polumbus will be reunited with some familiar faces in Seattle.

Polumbus' agent, Jack Mills, said his client was traded to the Seahawks on Monday night. He will be reunited there with offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, who was Denver's quarterbacks coach in 2008, when Polumbus was a rookie with the Broncos.

With first-round draft pick Russell Okung still nursing an injury, the Hawks are looking for a short-term solution at left-tackle. Mansfield Wrotto has been running with the first team, but the coaching staff didn't show much confidence in him, adding extra blockers to his side of the line.

Get well soon, Russell. The Seahawks need your presence on the blind side.

The Hawks finish off the preseason on Thursday against the Oakland Raiders.

For more on the Seahawks, check out SB Nation's Field Gulls.