Golden Tate would welcome chance to catch passes from ‘Tommy Boy’
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have just one wide receiver from their Super Bowl LIII roster under contract for the 2019 season, which means they could explore the free-agent market for help, and veteran Golden Tate would welcome a call from the defending champions.
“I would love it. That organization, they’ve proven to be champions year-in and year-out,” Tate said on the Prostyle Podcast with former NFL receiver Earl Bennett. “They work hard, for sure. But you know where you’re going to be at the end of the season; you’re going to be looking at not [only] going to the playoffs, but maybe a first-round bye. You got to admire that organization. They do things right and they’ve been doing it for a long, long, long time.
“So I’d definitely love to be a part of something like that, and definitely catch a few passes from old Tommy Boy.”
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Tate, who turns 31 on Aug. 2, added that he is “real good buddies” with Julian Edelman, the lone Patriots receiver from Super Bowl LIII under contract for 2019. Tate also has been in contact with former Detroit Lions teammate Kyle Van Noy, who just finished his third season with the Patriots, and said Van Noy speaks highly of the Patriots.
When asked about a possible return to Seattle, Tate — who has totaled 611 receptions for 7,214 yards with 38 touchdowns in nine seasons — added that anything is possible in free agency, and that he has maintained contact with head coach Pete Carroll. He called the Seahawks’ home stadium the most special environment he’s been part of. “Being nine years in, I still think that’s the most fun stadium to be a part of, and play in,” he said.
Of his mindset entering free agency, Tate said on the podcast: “My time is limited. I don’t know if it’s going to be three, four, five, six years. I don’t know what it’s going to be, but I’m on the tail end of my career for sure. I want to get another ring. Winning the Super Bowl was probably one of the highlights of my career, or the highlight of my career. I want to get back there so much more. That’s what the goal is. I want to go into this situation, I kind of want to have my cake and eat it at the same time. I want to go somewhere they sling the ball a lot, have a good quarterback, have a good offensive line, have a good offensive coordinator. I kind of want it all. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.”