IRISH IN THE PROS
BY ANDREW OWENS
T
he Detroit Lions have Calvin John‑
son on their roster, meaning they've
possessed the NFL's top receiver for
several years. Many around the orga‑
nization, however, think it's another
standout receiver on the team that will
put up better numbers this season.
Former Irish pass catcher Golden
Tate (2007‑09) is entering his second
season in Detroit after helping the Se‑
attle Seahawks win a Super Bowl in
2013. He already put up better num‑
bers than Johnson last year (99 catches
for 1,331 yards and four touchdowns)
while the Georgia Tech graduate bat‑
tled injuries.
Even if both are healthy this season,
Tate might be quarterback Matthew
Stafford's No. 1 option. According to
ESPN.com's advanced metrics, Tate is
one of the five most underrated receiv‑
ers in the NFL.
Those in Detroit certainly appreciate
him after his production helped the
franchise secure a rare playoff berth
last winter.
"I'll go back to when I signed my
contract," Tate told The Detroit Free
Press. "I was fully aware that if I'm
playing with one of the best receiv‑
ers ever and arguably the best player
to play in the game right now, I un‑
derstood that. But I wasn't coming in
with the mindset that I'm going to be
second to anyone.
"I don't care if I was playing with
Jerry Rice, Cris Carter and Calvin on
the same team. I don't have that mind‑
set that I'm going to be the No. 2. I
came in fighting for the No. 1. And
realistically, we understand the situa‑
Optimism Abounds
Last year, former Irish wide receiver Golden Tate
caught 99 passes for 1,331 yards and four touch-
downs in his first season with the Detroit Lions.
PHOTO COURTESY DETROIT LIONS
