Golden Tate knows he's closer to the end than the beginning. He won't put a number on how many years he has left, but he knows he only has so many cracks at winning another Super Bowl ring to go along with the one he collected as a member of the Seahawks in 2013.
If winning is what he wants, he was asked on the "Prostyle Podcast", what about signing with the Patriots? Tate is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins in March.
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"Man, I would love it," the veteran wide receiver said. "I would love it. That organization, they've proven to be champions year in and year out. They work hard, for sure. But you know where you're going to be at the end of the season. You're going to be looking at not going to the playoffs, but you're going to be looking at maybe a first-round bye, which is key.
"You gotta admire that organization. They do things right. They've been doing it for a long, long, long time. So, I'd definitely love to be a part of something like that and catch a few passes from ol' Tommy Boy. Julian is a buddy of mine. I'm real good buddies with him and I've heard good things. Kyle Van Noy, who got traded from Detroit and has been there and has been balling out since, has said great things about the organization. I definitely would not mind going over there for sure."
Tate, who turns 31 in August, heads a relatively thin class of accomplished pass-catchers on the free-agent market this offseason. In 15 games last season with the Lions and Eagles (he was traded mid-season), Tate caught 74 passes for 795 yards and four scores.
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He'd be of particular interest to the Patriots for his ability to play both inside and out as well as his experience returning punts. Others in this year's free-agent class who could interest New England include slot receivers Cole Beasley, Adam Humphries and Jamison Crowder, who were discussed as potential fits on the latest Next Pats Podcast.
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