Lions' Tate quells rumor being in trade talks before deadline
Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson (33) gives a high five to wide receiver Golden Tate (15) during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate is the subject of trade rumors, but he is trying to quell the talk by saying he doesn't expect to go anywhere at Tuesday's NFL trading deadline.
NFL Network reported Monday that the Lions have been fielding offers for their leading receiver and likely would need a mid-round draft pick, maybe a fourth-rounder, to trade Tate by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Tate said he has not heard anything from the Lions about a possible deal.
"I don't think so," Tate told the Free Press on Monday about getting traded. "I feel like I'm a huge part of this organization and this offense especially, so hopefully that's not the case. But again, I do understand it's a business and if it happens then, you know, depends on where they send me."
Tate, 30, was the subject of mild trade speculation after an 0-2 start, but the Lions have won three of their five games since to get back in the NFC North race.
"We're right there in the mix," Tate said.
The Lions are 3-4 and in last place in the division, but just a game behind the first-place Chicago Bears. They traded a 2019 fifth-round pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Damon Harrison last week in an effort to bolster their playoff chances.
Tate leads the Lions with 44 catches and 517 yards receiving this year, and is on pace for the first 100-catch season of his career and his fourth 1,000-yard season in five years with the Lions.
He is a candidate to be traded inasmuch as he is in the final season of a five-year, $31 million contract he signed with the Lions in 2014 and will be a free agent in March.
Tate said Monday he is optimistic he can get a long-term deal done to stay in Detroit and the two sides have moved "closer" to an extension since the start of the season.
"Ask (the front office about it), and then I'll speak on it," Tate said. "But I don't want to be the one - I don't want to draw too much attention in season to all that stuff."
Tate should benefit from significant deals involving receivers such as Jarvis Landry, Sammy Watkins and Brandin Cooks. Tate said he wants the market-value deal for his next contract.
"I expect to be here and I want to be here," he said. "But we'll see."
While a second NFL Network report Monday suggested the New England Patriots are among the teams interested in acquiring him, Tate said he hasn't given any thought to the trade rumors and wasn't aware of the reports until a reporter brought them to his attention.
"I don't think they're going to trade me," Tate said. "If they do, I'll be surprised but it's a business so I guess we got a few hours. A few hours and we'll see."
--DT Damon Harrison had seven solo tackles, two tackles for a loss and a sack in his Lions debut after being traded from the New York Giants earlier last week.
--CB Teez Tabor, who was starting his second game of the season, allowed four catches on four targets for 97 yards and a touchdown.
--WR Marvin Jones Jr. caught seven passes for 117 yards and two scores. Now all three of the Lions' top receivers -- Jones, Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay -- have 100-yard receiving performances this season.
--LT Taylor Decker was not on the field at the end of the game last week because of an undisclosed injury. Detroit coach Matt Patricia said Decker will be evaluated all week.
--LB Christian Jones (knee) was injured in the fourth quarter and never returned to the game.
Recent Stories
Rams hard at work despite earning bye
The Los Angeles Rams will continue to stay hard at work despite earning a bye through the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.
Players will continue to visit the ...
Packers' lost season includes losing Rodgers to concussion
Green Bay's 6-9-1 season ended with Aaron Rodgers getting knocked out of Sunday's 31-0 loss to the Detroit Lions with a concussion. That was dubious and fitting ...
49ers will retain defensive coordinator Saleh
The San Francisco 49ers gave up a lot of points and did not force many turnovers, but Robert Saleh will return for his third season as the 49ers' defensive coordinator, ...
GM Licht says Winston is Bucs' quarterback
Dirk Koetter was fired as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head coach on Sunday, but his quarterback will be staying.
General manager Jason Licht, who will lead the search ...
Chargers get another chance against Ravens
The Los Angeles Chargers didn't have to wait long for a chance to avenge their Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Los Angeles was shut down by Baltimore's stout ...
Latest Player Notes
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...
Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback
San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...
Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall
Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...
Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather
CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...
Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense
Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...
Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game
With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...