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I can't believe it's been two days since the Ravens signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh and I've yet to post a link to this video until this point.
That final line still cracks me up.
Houshmandzadeh doesn't have much time to watch YouTube videos this week; he kinda has to get to work.
The newly-acquired wide receiver has only five more days to get acclimated to the Ravens' offense and develop a chemistry with quarterback Joe Flacco before the season opener against the Jets.
One thing working in Houshmandzadeh's favor in that regard is that he played in the Ravens' system while he was in Cincinnati, so he's not completely starting from scratch when it comes to getting the plays and terminology down. Still, the 10-year veteran said during yesterday's press conference that as soon as he was done meeting with members of the local media, he was putting on his study cap and getting to work.
"I'm going to get up there and try to figure out this playbook and learn what's going on," Houshmandzadeh said. "It's not overly complicated, but when you're sitting there looking at a playbook you say, 'Oh, I got it.' But it's one thing to hear it in the huddle, line up and go do it in seven, eight seconds. It's a whole different dynamic, so it's going to take some time.
"Hopefully, I won't have to be in the huddle asking Flacco, 'What do I got to do?' I've just got to get on it and study. I think I'm a quick learner. I think I pick things up rather quick, and I'm just going to try to not be a hindrance, that's it."
Houshmandzadeh will get thrown into the fire right away, facing the NFL's reigning No. 1 defense on Monday Night Football to open the season. He'll also see arguably the league's top cornerback in Darrelle Revis on the other side of the ball, which he's looking forward do.
"I love it. This is why you play," Houshmandzadeh said. "He's the best. They say he's the best, and I love it. I don't know if he'll be on me because I'm just getting here. Whoever he's on, this is why you play. You want to see how you rank up against the best. You want to see how you stack up against him now. I'm not sure what kind of shape he'll be in. You can work out, but getting out there running, it's a different dynamic.
"It'll be fun. It'll be fun. I can't believe I go from playing San Francisco to being on Monday Night Football playing the Jets."
After previously spending eight seasons with the Ravens' division rivals in Cincinnati, Houshmandzadeh said it will be strange putting on a purple and black jersey prior to taking the field at the new Meadowlands.
But those feelings won't be exclusive to Monday night. In fact, they've already begun.
"It was a little weird when I tried my helmet on today," Houshmandzadeh said. "I'm not a person that really likes change, but sometimes change is better and I look forward to it. I've been on a lot of losing teams in my career. This team had a great shot.
"It's only five or six teams every year that have a legitimate shot to win a Super Bowl. But you've still got to go do it, and this is one of the teams, even if I wasn't here, [that] had a shot. For me to come here and them to accept me and want me on the team, I'm just going to try to do my part, that's it."
