Another positive image: T.J. leads youth clinic

MIAMI BEACH -- Just walked about four miles round trip down Ocean Drive to the beach, where Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was the star of a youth clinic for about 75 local middle and high school players.

It took place on an artifical turf field set up on the beach by Motorola. Houshmandzadeh participated in drills on a 40-yard field with students and discussed his upbringing and long road to the NFL.

Dressed in a black T-shirts and shorts and with his black hair tied in a pony tail, Houshmandzadeh worked effortlessly with the children. They hung on his every word. He posed for pictures. He signed their T-shirts with a Sharpie.

He encouraged students to do what he didn't in high school -- study. He said not every good football player will make it to the NFL. "But you can get a degree," he said.

Privately, Houshmandzadeh touched on a variety of topics:

-- He thinks the Bears will win Sunday againts the Colts because of the speed and overall excellence of their defense. He sees the game unfolding similarly to the upset pulled by New England against St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI.

-- As a player, he said, he can only be responsible for his actions in the wake of the team's ninth player arrest in 13 months.

"You can't go home with a guy," Houshmandzadeh said of teammates. "You can't follow him home. It's a trip that this has happened so many times."

-- In terms of teammate Chris Henry, "What do you cut him? Do you sit him down? ... Those decisions are made above me."