Lions Sign 5-Year, $31 Million Deal With Golden Tate
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
ALLEN PARK (CBS DETROIT) - The Detroit Lions already have one of the best running back tandems in the NFL with Reggie Bush and Joique Bell, and now it appears the team also has one of the league's most formidable receiving tandems as well.
Golden Tate to me just now: "Yes I am taking the deal (with the Lions). It is a 5-year deal for $31M and $13.25M guaranteed."
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 12, 2014
Tate led the Super Bowl champion Seahawks with 898 yards on 64 receptions in 2013. He caught 41 passes for first downs, including five touchdowns. Entering his fifth year in the league, Tate has 2,195 career receiving yards.
The wide receiver wasted no time tweeting out the news and his thanks to Seattle.
Wow I'm officially a Detroit #Lion. Extremely excited about the opportunity to grow with this organization.
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) March 12, 2014
However Seattle I am extremely thankful for the support and love the city has given me over the past 4 years. It's tough to leave such a
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) March 12, 2014
Great place. I appreciate everything the city, coaches, and teammates have done for me. I will always value how great seattle was to me
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) March 12, 2014
At the Allen Park facility earlier Wednesday to sign his own new contract, running back Joique Bell told reporters he also spotted Tate in the building.
"We might have walked past each other in the hallway as I was walking out from signing my deal," Bell said, smiling. "He was kind of walking - I don't know where he was walking to, but he was walking toward where I walked out from after I signed my contract.
"I don't know what that means," Bell added with a chuckle. "I don't know. [He] definitely would be a valuable piece to this already deadly offense."
A deal with Tate had looked like a good possibility in hours leading up to the signing, with Tate on the premises. Though Tate was not made available to media before signing, the reporter for the team's website provided updates that seemed like positive signs for Detroit.
Let you know when I hear. Just saw him walking around with WR coach Robert Prince @archman223: tim when will we hear how it went with Tate?
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) March 12, 2014
Tate told me he is used to weather here in Detroit today having played in Notre Dame. No big deal.
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) March 12, 2014
Bill Ford spent a considerable amount of time with WR Golden Tate today. That kind of engagement can make a difference in free agency.
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) March 12, 2014
Even before Tate signed, reports of the wide receiver at Detroit's facility definitely had Seattle fans concerned - and evidently for good reason.
Please do not leave @ShowtimeTate ....do not do it!!! @DougBaldwinJr needs his partner in crime...
— PETTY KING (@dthach28) March 12, 2014
The Lions needed a number two receiver to complement Johnson after releasing veteran Nate Burleson earlier this offseason.