Bengals Land Coles Two Days After Losing Houshmandzadeh

On Monday, the Seahawks signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a five-year, $40 million deal. Great news for Seattle -- Matt Hasselbeck will finally have a legit pass-catching threat (a seldom-healthy Deion Branch doesn't count) -- but the Bengals were suddenly down to Chad Ocho Cinco in the reliable wide receiver department. (Yikes.)

Apparently, the thought of starting the season with Chris Henry, Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell was enough to motivate historically cheap Bengals owner Mike Brown into action, presumably at the behest of head coach Marvin Lewis. Whatever the impetus, Cincy has a new-old Houshmandzadeh: Laveranues Coles. Via NFL.com's Adam Schefter, Coles signed a four-year, $28 million contract.

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Houshmandzadeh has been more prolific in recent seasons (three consecutive seasons of at least 90-plus receptions), but Coles isn't a bad consolation prize given the difference in contracts; he's had at least 70 catches in six of the past seven seasons.

It's not a high-profile free-agent signing, for sure, but Coles fills a huge void in the Bengals' offense. That he was relatively affordable is even better. If the offensive line can plug a few holes and get healthy, and Cedric Benson picks up where he left off last season (read: doesn't play like Chris Perry), Cincinnati may be the 2009 version of the 2008 Ravens.