Eagles yesterday during an interview with Mike Missanelli on ESPN 950.Houshmandzadeh, considered the top free-agent receiver on the market, said he could potentially be interested in playing in Philadelphia."If the Eagles are interested in me, let's put it like this. If they'll be interested in me, I'll be interested in them," he said when asked if the Eagles would be his top choice.Houshmandzadeh, 31, had 92 catches for 904 yards last season, but keep in mind he was dealing with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback after Carson Palmer went down with an injury. When asked about Donovan McNabb, Houshmandzadeh said he's a fan."I think McNabb is a fine quarterback," he said. "He's one of the best quarterbacks in the league, probably, I can't even think of another quarterback that has performed throughout his career the way he has and would be put in a situation like he was put in in Baltimore, but he bounced back very well."He was going to playoff games consistently with Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell starting for him," Houshmandzadeh said. "Consistently performing well, making it easy for them. A quarterback is gonna make it easy for his receivers and his receiver is gonna make those catches that is out of his radius where he puts the ball, ball sails on him, you go get it, I mean it goes hand in hand. You just need somebody to make plays. And you make each other look good, and I think that's what he needs."Earlier in the interview, he addressed McNabb's inability to get the Eagles' over the hump."Trust me man, you would prefer to go to the playoffs every year than not go," he said. "Even though you're not winning it, you always have a chance. It can be very difficult when you don't have a chance. And imagine how you guys would act if you're not in the playoffs. So he [McNabb] gets you guys in the playoffs. Things might not go the way you like when you get there but you guys are always there and you just need the weapons. When he had the weapons, look what he did."There's a chance that Houshmandzadeh could get the franchise tag from the Bengals, which would pay him $9.88 million for one season. However, NFL Network's Adam Schefter cited a league source at the end of December who said the Bengals would not franchise the wide receiver. Per Schefter, if the Bengals want him back, they'll attempt to sign Houshmandzadeh to a long-term deal.During the Eagles' now infamous tie with the Bengals last season, Houshmandzadeh caught 12 balls for 149 yards and a touchdown."Did you watch the Eagles and the Bengals game during the season? I was just giving Andy Reid, I was giving him an interview in person," Houshmandzadeh said. "That's all I was doing. I was giving him a three-month interview ahead of time. That's all."Now before you go e-mailing your friends and telling them that the Eagles are going to sign Houshmandzadeh, keep in mind that he's making the rounds. He also spoke to a Chicago radio station yesterday, and actually praised Rex Grossman."You know what's funny, man? Y'all probably going to laugh at me when I tell you this; I kind of like Rex Grossman," he said.The free-agency signing period starts on Feb. 27. Last week, Eagletarian listed the wide receivers available, and it's slim pickings behind Houshmandzadeh.
The tread title is a serious stretch.
