http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/videos/Tate-I-Want-To-Contribute-As-Soon-As-I-Can/3da4a6e8-26c6-440a-8aa0-9efcc1d8f6e7

@mudfly said:

Funny you should just post this.....I agree, I was wrong on that one. Just listened/watched the Pettine pressy and got some good bits.

Well.... I cheated. I watched his Monday presser yesterday.

That one answer about Tate's behavior where Pettine said, "Nothing I'd care to address here," or words to that effect, is what told me there was a great deal left unsaid. It sounded "H.R.-ish".

On a different note... it was also the first time I noticed Pettine reading prepared remarks in his opening.

@tour2ma said:

Funny you should just post this.....I agree, I was wrong on that one. Just listened/watched the Pettine pressy and got some good bits. I love this guy, because he is so straight forward. Here's what I took from his comments, which were mostly about the RB's.

1) Crowell is in the lead and is the "best team player" of the group. Least amount of ego, most amount of talent.

2) They do NOT plan to have a feature back. In Pettines perfect world, it will always be a 2 back rotation. Go with the hot hand. Be protected from injury. etc

3) Pettine knows most RB's need to be "the man" and want a lot of touches to get going. He said he doesn't care and that those guys wont work out on our team. Ha!

THEN, he went on to say,,,,

4) There is some concern about West and his professionalism, team mentality and off field behavior. Time will tell. Hmmm.

So, obviously Tate wanted to be the man. Said so VERY CLEARLY before coming here, then ended up as part of the 3 headed monster. I understand his frustration AND I also understand why he was let go. Just not the right back for us and not the right situation for him.

It also sounded like West comes from a similar mold. Im sure the greatest conflict, based upon coaches statements, was between West and Tate. Now, one side of the tension is gone and it's up to West to decide if he can handle sharing time with Crowell.

@upper-lip said:

Die please

Not cool... no matter the size of a PITA... not cool.

@mudfly said:

Im guessing some here are assuming that Tate was cut due to his comments.

I really doubt it.

I think he was cut simply because he sucked....plus, we have 2 other guys who can do it better.....and we needed a roster spot for JG.

Rare disagreement for us... More than just the published comments for sure, but doubt it was his overall play.

@mudfly said:

She's just gonna die in a few months or a year. Why prolong the inevitable, when you can try out a new wife NOW?

Dont be stupid! just cut chase, OFF her and move on.

AKA, Gingrich her...

@bbedward said:

Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner.

Donte is a homie...

@usfbrown said:

He got totally outplayed by two rookies (one undrafted) who didn't know the ZBS before getting here, when he had been in it for 4 years. That's the sad part.

Winston as an emergency backup, and go with Tate/Crowell.

@clevfan4life said:

wish this decision would have been made at the end of the season. I like both West and Crowell but right now I hate that we don't have Tate on our roster. I can foresee one of the rooks shitting the bed or getting hurt. Obviously I knew we couldn't keep 3 backs indef.

I agree except if he was a distraction, which it sounds like he was.

I was excited to see his initial commitment to the fans and city. Too bad it didn't pan out. He got totally outplayed.

@clevfan4life said:

wish this decision would have been made at the end of the season. I like both West and Crowell but right now I hate that we don't have Tate on our roster. I can foresee one of the rooks shitting the bed or getting hurt. Obviously I knew we couldn't keep 3 backs indef.

Glenn Winston....take it to the bank!!!

to the line and getting cut..

@everlastingxxx said:

Sounds like exactly it.

@tour2ma said:

Opens Gordon's spot... or Daniel's...

Move makes no sense to me whatsoever...

Tate was obviously under performing West & Crowell, and was bitching about his playing time. Plain as mud Tour.

@stocktonshorts said:

How many Browns RBs can say they were 5-2 as a starter?

You guys must be furious right?

I'm furious you have to go off topic. Oh if I bothered to look, I'd say around 20 or 30, starting with Marion Mottley and Jim Brown.

@mudfly said:

She's just gonna die in a few months or a year. Why prolong the inevitable, when you can try out a new wife NOW?

Dont be stupid! just cut chase, OFF her and move on.

Excellent parallel.

@hx214 said:

Thought of another minus...

The Colts will pick him up, then when he plays the Browns and he gashes the shit run defense it will be "Told ya so!"

Ugh...

Maybe he and Trent can put on a tap dance show that day in the backfield together.

Bottom line- Tate was promised he'd be the starter, or at least get the chance to start. Pettine was on record "best players play". Tata in game situations was inferior to his backups.

@opal312 said:

What is it you don't get? The trade deadline passed Oct. 28th.. That means we couldn't trade him. That was 3 weeks ago..

Had he starterd moaning a month ago, we probably would have.

Quit sounding stupid.

Then we drafted 2 kids that really have some weight behind their carries and some weight in their character, Hungry runners that are Cleveland Born(Browns Rookies) and full of desire. Which was good.

Then Tate went down and those two carried the team and were blazing through the ranks in rushing, gaining momentum and experience... which was good.

Then Tate came back and what he brought to the table couldn't match the fire that was already started in those two. You know what you have in Tate, what you don't know is how much better can these other two guys be than Tate.

Tate became angry and it seemed in a lot of his interviews he was dismissing the success of his teammates and demanded they all recognize that he was the man with the higher contract. Which was bad.

Tate got carries to prove that he could out show them, he didn't. The people(fans) wanted to see more of Crowell and West, when Tate was in the game they felt like they weren't trying hard enough to win, they kept trotting out Tate while everyone clamored for more of that success that the Rooks showed earlier.. This was bad for Tate.

Tate tried to embrace Cleveland, but he's no Joe Haden. Cleveland Born Browns are great to root for, FA? Not so much. Kruger I like though... and I really like Whitner, since he's from here. Nice coming home story, kinda like Joe Vicious.

See when I watch football I watch it for the person almost as much as the player. The way I see it is this, every season there are 31 losers and one winner. The odds are not in your favor to win it all every year. You have to find those players that you're willing to lose with and suffer win and hopefully one day Celebrate with.... I really like this group of guys that we have right now - This Year! Why Not Us?

@diehardbrownsfan said:

If all variables were the same, I'm sure there is a small section of players who would choose style over non-style.

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

I thought it was because they wanted some more flashy uniforms with colors and shit.

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

It's not "Don't want to be in Cleveland" as much as it is "want to play for a contender" or "want a city with more to offer". As much as people here want to deny it, these are factors for some players.

At the end of the day, it's always "money talks". But if you're a 28 year old FA and you have three offers that are exactly the same - one from Cleveland, one from New York (Jets or Giants) and one from say, Denver... the odds of that player choosing Cleveland over the other two, unless they have some sort of ties to the city, aren't good.

Now, if Cleveland were to string together a couple of 10+ win, playoff/Super Bowl seasons...things would be a little different. But, the Cleveland of late...good luck not overpaying for quality free agents.

@stocktonshorts said:

But we were 5-2 with Ben Tate starting at RB.

How many Browns RBs can say they were 5-2 as a starter?

You guys must be furious right?

It all came together pretty well, but at the time he was one if the few really injecting some enthusiasm into the town. Wanted to be here and seemed like a good fit.

@comeonman said:

You will have to remind me of a 'good' free agent that wanted to play in CLE. And I'm not talking 'good' as in Kruger.

Top of head. Eric steinbach, lecharles Bentley, jamaal lewis, donte whitner, karlos dansby, willie mcginnnest, Andre rison, Joe jurivicious, vinny testerverde.... I know there are plenty more from 2000- just give me some time.

@kvoethe said:

Not only that, but he's been in a special protective cell the whole time. He should have been given the Dahmer treatment a long time ago.....

And back on topic, I agree free agents didnt want to come because we had a bad team. I honestly dont think we even tried to sign many(any?) top free agents anyway. So it's hard to say.......But if we win, they'll come.......Ask the Cavs..... Or the 90's Indians.....Or the 80's Browns.

@tml1138 said:

Since you brought that up...I read 'Ol Chuck is getting married...to some 26 year old. He's 80 now.

How much taxpayer money have we wasted on him? If hes not the poster child for capital punishment i dont know who is