Golden Tate jettisoned the Seahawks this offseason for the greener pastures of Detroit.
However, the speedy wide receiver says the move was more about money, and believes he's primed to "catch more balls and make more Pro Bowls" with the Lions.
"I think if I can stay healthy ... it's going to be fun," Tate said on ESPN's First Take on Monday, via MLive.com. "I have a chance to catch a ton more balls. I'm going to see a lot of single coverage. I'm probably going to see a lot of No. 2 and No. 3 cornerbacks because everyone's going to be on No. 81.
"I'm excited. I think the sky's the limit. I think it's going to get back to the old Golden."
No. 81, of course, is Calvin Johnson, the NFL's best receiver. Tate was often the go-to pass-catcher in Seattle, but his No. 1 days are over. He's likely to benefit from the decreased attention from defenses as teams game plan for Megatron, but also feels the man now slinging him passes will elevate his game.
"I would definitely say Matt Stafford's balls get there way quicker (than Russell Wilson's). I like Stafford's touch," Tate said. "He can place a ball wherever he wants. ... There's going to be small windows and guys there ready to hit you."
Tate was a solid starter over the last two seasons, averaging 54.5 catches and 793 yards along with six TDs while playing in the Seahawks' run-heavy offense. Megatron has never played alongside a true No. 2 receiver, and if Tate can successfully fulfill the role, the Lions' offense could be downright scary.
Quote:Golden H. Tate III (born August 2, 1988) is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame, and was recognized as an All-American.
