HEADLINES

Ben Tate

Ben Tate Working Out For Cowboys

May 21st, 2015 at 8:42am CST by Luke Adams

The Cowboys continue to eye the free agent market for possible options at running back, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Ben Tate is working out for Dallas today.

Tate, 26, was viewed as a potential breakout candidate heading into the 2014 season, as he finally stepped out from Arian Foster‘s shadow after spending four years as the backup in Houston. However, after signing with the Browns, Tate underwhelmed, and was eclipsed on Cleveland’s depth charts by rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West.

The Browns opted to part ways with Tate in November, at which point three teams put in claims for the running back, with the Vikings landing him. Tate wasn’t any more impressive for Minnesota though, and was cut by the club before Week 17.

The former Auburn standout received one more opportunity in the postseason, signing with the Steelers and seeing five carries in Pittsburgh’s Wild Card loss to the Ravens. He’s now an unrestricted free agent, and – unsurprisingly – he’s generating much less interest this offseason than he did a year ago.

Still, a team like the Cowboys might be a fit for the former Texan. The club figures to have a few backfield players vying for touches, but none are necessarily viewed as clear-cut No. 1 backs. Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar, Ryan Williams, and free agent signee Darren McFadden are currently expected to be in the mix for carries in Dallas.

While Tate is one of the more notable running backs still available, he’s far from the only recognizable player on the free agent market. Steven Jackson, and Chris Johnson, Pierre Thomas, and Ahmad Bradshaw are among the other veterans still looking for new homes.

Steelers Sign Ben Tate

December 30th, 2014 at 1:35pm CST by Luke Adams

1:35pm: The Steelers have officially signed Tate, the team announced today in a press release. Pittsburgh cut wide receiver Justin Brown to create an opening on the 53-man roster for the incoming addition.

8:14am: With Le’Veon Bell‘s status for Saturday’s Wild Card game up in the air, the Steelers are hosting free agent running back Ben Tate for a visit today, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Schefter, assuming the visit goes well, Pittsburgh is expected to sign Tate.

It’s been an underwhelming season for Tate, who was viewed as a breakout candidate heading into 2014 after leaving Houston, where he had backed up Arian Foster for the first few years of his NFL career. In Cleveland, Tate struggled and was hampered by injuries early in the season, and fell behind rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West on the team’s depth chart. The Browns opted to release Tate, at which point the Vikings claimed him on waivers, but the 26-year-old didn’t impress in Minnesota either, and the team cut him last week.

For the season, Tate accumulated just 371 rushing yards on 119 carries, good for an average of 3.1 yards per rush. That’s a significant step down from the 4.7 mark he posted during the previous three seasons in Houston, over a span of 421 carries.

Bell suffered a hyperextended knee during the Steelers’ regular season finale against the Bengals, and is considered highly questionable for this weekend’s game against the Ravens. If Bell can’t go, and Pittsburgh does bring Tate aboard, the Auburn product may be thrown into the mix immediately — among the team’s other options, third-round pick Dri Archer likely isn’t ready for a featured role, while fellow rookie Josh Harris had just nine rushing attempts all season. In fact, with LeGarrette Blount now playing in New England, no current Steelers running back besides Bell had more than 10 carries in 2014.

Vikings Release Ben Tate

December 24th, 2014 at 4:15pm CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 4:15pm: Tate has cleared waivers and is free to sign with any team, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. While the Colts and Cardinals had previously placed claims on the running back when he was waived by the Browns, the two teams apparently decided against adding an outsider prior to the playoffs.

TUESDAY, 4:52pm: Running back Ben Tate has been cut for the second time this season, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the Vikings have parted ways with Tate. As was the case when Tate was dropped by the Browns earlier in the season, teams will have an opportunity to put in waiver claims before the running back becomes eligible for free agency.

Tate, 26, was viewed as one of the more high-profile running backs available in free agency this past offseason, and inked a two-year deal with the Browns in the hopes of assuming the role of the No. 1 back in Cleveland. However, he was surpassed on the team’s depth chart by rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West, and was released in November, at which point the Vikings claimed him off waivers. Since then, Tate has done little to impress in Minnesota, recording 38 yards on 13 carries, for 2.9 yards per carry, an average even worse than his 3.1 mark with the Browns.

When Cleveland cut Tate, the Colts and Cardinals both submitted claims, but were behind the Vikings in waiver priority. Unlike Minnesota, Indianapolis and Arizona will both see their seasons continue beyond Week 17, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if both teams took another long look at Tate — particularly since both clubs are missing their top backs, in Ahmad Bradshaw and Andre Ellington respectively. Tate’s stint with the Vikings didn’t inspire much confidence in his postseason potential, but he at least represents an inexpensive gamble.

If the Colts, Cardinals, or any other club were to claim Tate, they’d take on his current contract, which calls for a non-guaranteed base salary of $2.2MM in 2015.

NFC North Notes: Tillman, Tate, Lions, Bears

December 9th, 2014 at 5:58pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Veteran Bears corner Charles Tillman has been on injured reserve since mid-September after tearing his triceps in Week 2, but the time off hasn’t lessened his urge to return to game action in 2015. “I would like to continue to play,” Tillman told ESPN 1000 today (link via Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com). “Right now, all I want to do is get healthy before I make a decision to retire or to continue to play. I have every intent of coming back and playing.” Additionally, the 12-year veteran won’t limit himself to only playing for Chicago. “I’m willing to play for all 32 organizations, whoever is interested,” said Tillman. “That’s the business side. Do I love Chicago? Yeah, but at the end of the day, if Chicago didn’t want me back and that team wanted me, or this team wanted me, or that team, yeah, I’ve got to go. They’re going to pay my bills. So, sorry.” Here’s more from the NFC North.

  • With Jerick McKinnon now on injured reserve, Vikings running back Ben Tate could be in line for more carries, writes Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Tate, whom Minnesota claimed from the Browns earlier this season, is due more than $46K per game in roster bonuses for each contest he’s active, so he has financial incentive to perform and remain a part of the club’s plans for the remaining three games.
  • Lions rookie receiver T.J. Jones will remain on the PUP list, ending his season, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Jones, a sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame, began practicing three weeks ago after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. However, Detroit obviously doesn’t believe he’s healthy enough to play, and as Rothstein notes, the Lions have a bevy of receiver talent, meaning little playing time for Jones.
  • Defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy, whose failed physical voided his waiver claim by the Seahawks earlier this month, worked out for the Bears today, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).

Vikings Place Jerick McKinnon On IR

December 6th, 2014 at 3:14pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Vikings have placed running back Jerick McKinnon on IR, ending his breakout rookie season with the team, reports Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (via Twitter).

In 11 games this season, McKinnon amassed 538 yards at a clip of 4.8 yards per carry. A third-round pick out of Georgia Southern, he performed well in place of Adrian Peterson.

McKinnon will have a back procedure, with an eight-week recovery time, writes Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). He should be back in time for offseason workouts.

The team promoted defensive end Justin Trattou from the practice squad to the active roster. The Vikings added safety Ahmad Dixon to the practice squad, reports Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter).

The void left by McKinnon could open up playing time for Ben Tate, who was claimed off waivers earlier this season, reports Albert Breer of NFL.com (via Twitter).

 

Colts, Cards Put In Claims For Ben Tate

November 20th, 2014 at 10:14am CST by Luke Adams

A day after the Browns released Ben Tate, the Vikings were awarded the running back off waivers on Wednesday, claiming him as a de facto replacement for Adrian Peterson once it became apparent that Peterson almost certainly wouldn’t return to the field this season. However, Minnesota wasn’t the only club to submit a claim for Tate. According to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Colts and Cardinals also placed claims for the former Texan.

The fact that the Colts also tried to grab Tate isn’t a surprise — the team is in need of help in the backfield after seeing Ahmad Bradshaw go down for the season on Sunday with a fractured ankle. In Bradshaw’s absence, Trent Richardson and Dan Herron are the lead backs in Indianapolis, and neither player has shown he’s capable of carrying a significant load this season.

As for the Cards, their claim is a little more surprising. A pair of beat writers reported earlier in the week that Tate was an unlikely target for Arizona, even if he made it through waivers and became a free agent. The team is currently carrying five running backs too, so depth doesn’t appear to be an issue, though Andre Ellington and Robert Hughes have both been limited in practice this week.

Ultimately, the Vikings won out on Tate due to their subpar record this season. Waiver priority is determined by reverse order of record, so the 4-6 Vikes were ahead of the 6-4 Colts in line. And both teams were well ahead of the 9-1 Cards, who could only claim a player off waivers if each of the other 31 clubs passed.

Vikings Claim Ben Tate Off Waivers

November 19th, 2014 at 4:06pm CST by Luke Adams

4:06pm: The Vikings have officially confirmed their claim of Tate, announcing that they’ve waived tight end MarQueis Gray to accommodate the move (Twitter link).

3:10pm: A day after receiving word that starting running back Adrian Peterson has been suspended the rest of the 2014 season, the Vikings have added another back to their roster, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Minnesota has claimed Ben Tate off waivers from the Browns.

Tate, 26, signed with the Browns in the offseason in the hopes of taking over as the team’s No. 1 back, but was surpassed on the depth chart by rookie Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West. In eight games for Cleveland this season, Tate carried the ball for just 333 yards on 106 attempts, a 3.1 yards per carry average. After griping publicly about his lack of playing time and losing nine yards on two carries on Sunday, Tate was cut by the Browns on Tuesday.

Without Peterson for the majority of the season, the Vikings have relied primarily on Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata as their ball-carriers, but both players missed practice today with injuries, as Ben Goessling of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter). Given the banged-up state of their backfield, and the fact that Peterson almost certainly won’t see the field this season, it makes sense that the Vikings could use some depth at the running back position.

There had been speculation that the Colts, who saw Ahmad Bradshaw go down with a season-ending ankle injury on Sunday night, may submit a claim for Tate, but Indianapolis would’ve been behind Minnesota in waiver priority — the order is determined by record, with the league’s worst teams getting the first crack at players who have been released.

By claiming Tate rather than signing him as a free agent, the Vikings will assume the contract that the ex-Texan signed with the Browns back in March. That means that if Tate’s stint in Minnesota during the final six weeks of this season is a success, the team would have the option of keeping him on the roster next season for a base salary of $2.2MM.

Poll: Ben Tate Vs. LeGarrette Blount

November 19th, 2014 at 8:44am CST by Luke Adams

Last March, heading into free agency, Ben Tate and LeGarrette Blount were viewed as two of the more intriguing options available on the running back market. Tate, who had been Arian Foster‘s No. 2 in Houston for years, drew comparisons to Michael Turner, another longtime backup who finally got a shot at a lead role when he reached free agency. Blount, meanwhile, was coming off a surprisingly stellar campaign with the Patriots, which included a 166-yard, four-touchdown outburst against the Colts in the postseason.

Eight months later, both players are on waivers, having been released by their respective teams yesterday. In Cleveland, rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell surpassed Tate on the depth chart, which didn’t sit well with the veteran, who publicly griped about his role. The same can be said of Blount, who left the field early, apparently upset about his lack of playing time, during the Steelers’ Monday night win over the Titans as Le’Veon Bell rumbled to over 200 yards on the ground.

Given the way things ended in Cleveland and Pittsburgh for Tate and Blount, teams should have concerns about signing either player as a backup — the impact on the locker room may not be worth it for a contending team, even if it means adding more talent to its backfield. That’s likely why we’ve mostly heard reports about teams with no interest in either player since they were waived yesterday. The Broncos, Cardinals, and Jaguars are among the clubs who have been ruled out as possible destinations for the two backs, and the Browns and Steelers are uninterested in one another’s castoffs.

Still, there are rumblings that Tate, at least, won’t make it through waivers, and I’d be a little surprised if Blount didn’t find work for the rest of the year. It seems likely that both players will get another shot, so today’s poll question asks: Which player would you rather take a flier on? Or are neither of them worth the hassle? After casting your vote, feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

South Notes: Colts, Rice, Tate, Texans

November 18th, 2014 at 7:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest from the AFC and NFC South..

  • A source close to Ben Tate tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) that he will get claimed by a team before the Colts (at No. 21) get the chance.
  • There has been some speculation that the Colts, with a need at running back now that Ahmad Bradshaw is out for the year, and a head coach in Chuck Pagano who has a history with Ray Rice, may be interested in the suspended running back if he’s reinstated. However, Ed Werder of ESPN.com reports that Indianapolis would have no interest in signing Rice as a potential replacement for Bradshaw.
  • However, another prominent free agent running back could be a consideration for the Colts. The team has begun researching running back Ben Tate — including his character and potential fit in Indy’s scheme — and appear interested in possibly claiming him off waivers, a source told ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. The Colts have to be especially mindful of whether a tailback can fit in given the complexity of their offense.
  • The Falcons had Travian Robertson plucked from their taxi squad earlier today and they’re looking into replacements already. Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter) reports that Atlanta is auditioning defensive tackle Kheeston Randall today.

North Notes: Steelers, Tate, Peterson

November 18th, 2014 at 6:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com reported earlier today (via Twitter) that someone on the Steelers staff called someone with the Browns to ask about Ben Tate‘s release, but Scott Brown of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears that Pittsburgh has no interest in picking up Tate to replace LeGarrette Blount. More out of the North divisions..

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Load More Posts