Will T.J. Houshmandzadeh don the horned helmet of the Vikings and proceed to rape and pillage the coasts of England…err…the NFC North? Well, your guess is as good as mine, but there are conflicting reports of a new visit to Tampa Bay. Since I’m too lazy to copy and paste a boatload of links, take it away, kirk.
If the rumor mill is to be believed, a Philly visit is in the works as well, despite prior reports that the Eagles had told T.J. to take his agent and shove him. Muckraker Mike wonders if this isn’t more misinformation from Housh’s [...]

RB Derrick Ward has finished his visit with the Cincinnati Bengals and is headed to Denver next.
The Broncos signed RBs Correll Buckhalter and J.J. Arrington yesterday.

There was a report yesterday that the Detroit Lions might enter the chase for WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh since it appeared his price tag was not going to be as high as predicted.
Well, if they were ever really interested, they probably aren’t anymore, since they have reportedly reached a three-year, $9 million deal with WR Bryant Johnson.
Meanwhile, Housh and his agent continue to talk with the Bengals as they tour the country. T.J. wouldn’t discuss any possible visits beyond Seattle and Minnesota, though there are rumors of one in the works to the Giants as well.
When free agency opened, Houshmandzadeh said [...]

In possibly the most blatent case of highway robbery in NFL history, the Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly nabbed both LB Mike Vrabel and QB Matt Cassel in exchange for their second-round pick in April.
I can only echo Muckraker Mike’s reaction: Wow. Heck, forget Vrabel, just Cassel for a second would be a steal.
Anybody still think the Bengals can get a first for Chad Johnson?
With Cassel in the fold, it’s likely the Chiefs will now address either their offensive or defensive line with the third overall pick. OTs Eugene Monroe and Jason Smith, DE Brian Orapko and LB Aaron Curry [...]

Now that the first 24 hours of free agency are behind us and the rush of signings has slowed, there’s space for some perspective. For Bengals fans, perhaps the most surprising event of free agency so far has been the lack of suitors for WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Over at yahoo sports, Charles Robinson labels T.J. one of the losers of day 1.
He still will get a good contract, but the market realities of a 31-year-old wideout are setting in. Seattle is next on the itinerary. If he can’t get something done there, he’s going to be scrounging for a decent [...]

So…here at the end of day 1 of the 2009 free agent period, here’s where the Cincinnati Bengals stand:
Players Retained
K Shayne Graham (franchise tag)
LB Rashad Jeanty (2nd round comp RFA tag)
LB Brandon Johnson (2nd round comp RFA tag)
DB Chris Crocker (4 years, $10 million, $3.5 million guaranteed)
RB DeDe Dorsey (1 year, terms undisclosed)
Players Lost
OT Stacy Andrews (Philadelphia pending physical, reported $7 million/year)
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Buffalo, terms undisclosed)
Key Players in Limbo
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (visiting Seattle and “those that cover the Seahawks didn’t detect an imminent deal before Houshmandzadeh leaves town.”)
RB Cedric Benson
Players Visiting
RB Derrick Ward (Giants)
Day 2 underway…

Former Bengals backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who went 4-7-1 as a starter last season after Carson Palmer was lost for the year, has signed with the Buffalo Bills, according to NFL.com’s Adam Schefter.

Citing reports by Comcast SportsNet, Muckraker Mike says that what little interest the Philadelphia Eagles had in WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh evaporated after T.J.’s agent tried to play Philly for more money.
T.J. is currently in Seattle visiting with the Seahawks, a team that prior to free agency said it would not be a big player.
Other teams rumored to be in the hunt for Houshmandzadeh also have yet to materialize. The Giants are hosting backup linemen like Rocky Bernard, the Bucs are just a rumor, the Lions seem more interested in Nate Washington and interest in Minnesota appears to be all on [...]

The Cincinnati Bengals accomplished one of their primary goals in free agency today, inking DB Chris Crocker to a four-year, $10 million deal.
Crocker was a mid-season pickup in 2008 who played in 8 games, amassing 48 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and pick and a forced fumble.
The deal includes $3.5 million in guaranteed coin.

Pity poor Derrick Ward. The consensus No. 1 running back available in free agency apparently has his choice of playing for the Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1 last season) or Detroit Lions (0-16).
Other teams rumored to be interested, such as the Rams, Bucs and Broncos, have failed to come calling.
Update: Ward is headed to Cincy for a visit.
Update 2: The Lions denied reports of interest in Ward, and earlier today signed RB Maurice Morris. Meanwhile, Pewter Report says that reports that the Bucs are interested in Ward are not true.