Detroit Lions: Golden Tate backpedals on extension talk
Detroit Lions’ wide receiver Golden Tate backpedals after tweeting he’d like to get an contract extension from the team soon.
Last Thursday, Detroit Lions’ wide receiver Golden Tate tweeted out a not so subtle hint that he’d like to receive a contract extension from the team. This after the 28-year old receiver saw his friend, New England Patriots wide out Julian Edelman, receive a two-year, $11 million extension from the Pats this week.
Tate, who has been the Lions’ most consistent receiver the past three seasons, still has two-years left on his current deal, a five-year, $31 million contract he signed with Detroit back in March of 2014.
I hope I'm one of the next ones to get extended..... big plays can come in all shapes and forms huh? https://t.co/Rsw1jBRPWU
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) June 9, 2017
On Saturday, the veteran receiver clarified his tweet to the media, backpedaling on his statement about hoping to be one of the “next ones” extended.
"“I saw my buddy get extended and that’s obviously the goal,” Tate told the Detroit Free Press over the weekend. “I have this season and next season until I can really think about it, but it wasn’t nothing malicious or me hinting at it. I mean, I’m hinting at it in a few years, of course. But I’d love to stay here. I’m having a lot of fun, we have a great foundation, I love where we’re going but we’ll see. I still got time.”"
A former second round pick out of Notre Dame in 2010, Tate has recorded a combined 280 receptions, 3,221 yards and 14 touchdowns during his first three seasons in Detroit. Last year, he posted 91 catches for 1,077 yards and four scores. Tate tied for 10th in total receptions among his NFL peers in 2016.
With two-years left on his current deal, Tate is scheduled to make $6 million this year and $7 million in 2018.
The Lions’ signed free agent wide receiver Marvin Jones to a five-year, $40 million contract last offseason. Jones is slated to receive $7 million in each of the next two seasons, but posted just 55 receptions for 930 yards and four scores for Detroit in 2016.
Next: Ranking the 5 best Lions draft classes of the past 30 years
That means Tate is scheduled to receive a million less dollars than Jones this upcoming season despite recording 36 more receptions last year and being considered the Lions’ top receiving option. For now, it appears Golden Tate seems fine with that.