Pittsburgh Steelers Sign Ben Tate as Insurance Policy
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The roller coaster ride running back Ben Tate has been on this year just took another sharp turn.
Tate, who already spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings earlier this season, has signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. With starter Le’Veon Bell likely out for the Steelers’ Wild Card showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, the team needed an insurance policy – hence, the Tate signing.
Prior to Tate’s arrival, the Steelers boasted only rookies Dri Archer and Josh Harris, who have combined for 19 carries and 46 yards in their careers, as their running back options. By adding the powerful Tate to the mix, the Steelers have given themselves a back with considerable NFL experience.
Don’t, however, expect Tate to be anything more than a change of pace in his first week in Pittsburgh.
Tate is nearing the end of an extremely disappointing 2014 campaign during which he was shown the door by two different teams. Throughout the season, he’s managed only 3.1 yards per carry on 119 attempts. Even though the Steelers have given him his third chance of the year, it’s going to take an outstanding week of practice for Tate to earn significant touches against the Ravens.
Put simply, this could be Tate’s final legitimate opportunity to prove he’s worth a roster spot in the NFL. If he can convince the Steelers he’s worth putting on the field, other teams might be forced to the kick the tires this offseason.
Either way, he’s nothing more than an insurance policy at this point. Once Bell returns, it’s back to irrelevance for Tate.
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