DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns sign Ben Tate.

Browns have signed Ben tate

https://www.facebook.com/clevelandbrowns

Fan friggin tastic!!!!!

Go browns!!!!

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2014/03/cleveland_browns_houston_runni.html

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns filled the void they've had at running back since they traded Trent Richardson last season by signing former Texans running back Ben Tate on Saturday.

Tate is the fifth free agent signed by the Browns since the league opened for business on Tuesday. The others are safety Donte Whitner, inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, cornerback Isaiah Trufant and tight end Jim Dray. They've also signed Bengals restricted free agent slot receiver Andrew Hawkins to a four-year offer sheet worth $13.6 million. The Bengals have until Tuesday match, but nfl.network reports that they're unlikely to do so because the contract is frontload. A source told cleveland.com it includes $10.8 million over the first two years.

Tate arrived in Cleveland Thursday night and has been in town ever since. He signaled that things were moving in the right direction by tweeting a photo of the Terminal Tower lit up in red on Saturday night.

John Telich of Fox 8 News reported that Tate's deal includes performance-based incentives that will make him earn his money. With Tate's injury history, the Browns undoubtedly felt they had to protect themselves.

A fifth-year pro, Tate, 25, has averaged 4.7 yards per carry during his three seasons. A second-round pick of the Texans out of Auburn in 2010, he broke his ankle in preseason and sat out his rookie season.

But he came back in 2011 and won the backup job to Arian Foster, rushing for 942 yards on 175 attempts for a 5.4-yard average -- third highest in the NFL. He also rushed for four touchdowns.

Plagued by lingering foot and hamstring injuries in 2012, Tate was limited to 279 yards on 65 carries, but still averaged a respectable 4.3 yards per carry. For comparison's sake, Richardson averaged 3.6 yards per carry in 2012 and 3.3 overall.

Last season, Tate battled through four cracked ribs much of the season to rush for 771 yards and four TDs in 14 games, including seven starts. Ultimately, he succumbed to the rib pain and was placed on injured reserve for the final two games of the season.

But he drew praise from interim coach Wade Phillips for playing in his next game after breaking the ribs, rushing for 81 yards on 22 carries in a loss to the Colts.

"He's a tough son of a gun - I've had star players not play with broken ribs,'' Philips told the Houston Chronicle.

Tate said last week that he's looking for a chance to step out of Foster's shadow and establish himself as a top five back in his own right.

"I think I can bring you an elite running back," Tate told Fox 26 in Houston on Friday. "I've learned a lot being behind Arian (Foster). Definitely, when I'm healthy I think I'm an elite running back in this league, and I feel like I can show my abilities and my numbers and my play will speak for itself, and guys will be able to see that I am a guy who is a top-five running back in this league, which I believe once I get out there and get to show that on a consistent basis."

Tate also wrote in a Facebook post Friday, "I'm tired of people acting like RBs aren't really that important anymore.''

Overall, Tate has rushed for 1,992 yards on 421 carries (4.7 average) and 10 touchdowns in his three seasons.

“I’m excited about the opportunity,” Tate told the Houston Chronicle about becoming a free agent. “I’m starting to feel rejuvenated.”

He also said he's fully recovered from the rib injury that plagued him much of last season.

“My ribs are fine,” he told the Chronicle. “Sometimes, it was tough (to play with the injury), but not playing is not what I signed up for. It’s not my personality to be out if I can play.”

Browns fans might remember that Tate rushed for 115 yards yards against the Browns during a Texans 30-12 victory in 2011 -- a game in which Foster also rolled up 124 yards en route to a franchise-record 261 by Houston.

In addition to Tate, the Browns also have Dion Lewis coming back from a broken leg and ligament damage. The Browns also have promising young back Edwin Baker on the roster, along with Fozzy Whitaker and Jamaine Cooke.

This really is a great move - I have loved watching Tate the last couple of years... Personally I felt he was a better pure runner than foster in houston but just didn't have the shake and bake and hands coming out of the backfield

I like it..incentive laden contract. Guy has talent when healthy.

Awesome news. Tate is a perfect running back for Shanahan's zone running game.

And it means they don't have to spend a high pick on a RB.

Very happy with this signing!

I like it's a two year deal. Keep him wanting to stay healthy but at the same time, run hard. Can't wait to see the contract details...

Good signing. Tate was the RB I wanted just awaiting contract details before I burst into flames!

Tate going WOOF WOOF WOOF:

https://vine.co/v/MbVduI3XUwA

Haha welcome Tate!

Two years and up to $7 million is a bargain. Hopefully Tate is more Michael Turner and not some other backup running back that I can't think of that signed with a team and didn't have any success.

Ian Rapoport, Twitter

Can't knock the deal at this price. Also, remember he was drafted to fit the ZBS scheme -- he's a good system fit, on top of being a good RB.

Overall, I'm lukewarm on Free Agency here - but this is a good pickup.

I like Tate's talent, but worry about him being banged up. However, I cannot complain at all about an incentive laden deal.

Tate and Baker are a nice starting point ...... we can see what Lewis has, and probably draft a guy in the 4th or 5th. We could go from vacant to having a stable of RBs.

Quote:

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We could go from vacant to having a stable of RBs.

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Didn't we start out that way last year?

I like this signing too. We still have all our picks, and they are filling holes with quality. I think Tate could be strong in Shanahan's offense. His backs have success.

jc...

For the sake of comparison, Tate is 25 and has 421 carries in the NFL.

Trent Richardson has played 2 years, was demoted last year, and has 455 career carries.

Great signing...relatively cheap...the best FA RB in the whole 2014 class...and still super young...improves our RB talent a lot...prolly the worst collection of RB talent...just got upgraded a notch Or two

Yeah! I wanted him when he came out of college....

Man this helps our draft out sooooo much! Very happy we got the deal done. Seems like a really great price. I would have thought he would be in higher demand but I guess the injury history held things up for him. Now we can draft a HB based on bpa instead of on need or not draft one at all.

Me too...and I think also Heckert since he traded up right after the pick to select Hardesty...oh well, that didn't work out.

Late 2nd/early3rd round Browns picks have a facepalm-history for me personally. Wanted Tate, got Hardesty, wanted T.Smith or Cobb, got Little. I think I wanted us to trade up into the late 2nd almost in any draft to go get falling top 50 talent and we never do it.

Imagine what a class 2011 would have been with T.Smith or Cobb instead of Little. Taylor, Sheard, Cameron, Skrine and Pinkston. It's strong as it is, even with the Marecic bust, but damn.

Best FA deal so far. I think cheap at $7 million.

With the Tate signing we are a 6- 10 to 7-9 team, if Farmer has a good draft we are 9-7 to 10-6 and that could take the division.

That's a good deal.If he doesn't work out,they aren't on the hook for big $$$.Cant wait for that draft to get here,and see what kind of firepower they get for the offense.

I like the deal....

It certainly fills a big need and the price is not bad. If the reports are true, it really is a "show me" contract. Hopefully for our sake he can stay healthy...that's my biggest concern.

I'd still look at a RB mid round in the draft.

Welcome to Cleveland, Tate.

This was a BIG pickup!!!!

So far, I have to give the FO an A in free agency!!


Maybe this organization is finally getting things right???

I really like the Tate signing. I also liked what I saw from Edwin Baker last year. They can now focus on filling other needs in the draft while maybe taking a RB late.

Great pick up. Welcome to Cleveland Ben!

I'm still waiting to see the contract details but most reports say he can get "up to" $7M...meaning that is the most he can get. So perhaps the incentive laden contract was accurate?

Nice signing at the right price. However, we will still need to draft a back up running back. As it stands, if Tate would go down we don't have a starting caliber RB to take his place. Lewis may make a nice 3rd down back, but other than Tate I don't see a back on this team that could take 25-30 carries every game and be effective. Still, this is a very good start at building a nice RB stable. And the price doesn't kill us. Hopefully, we won't be throwing the ball 42 times a game this year.

Shame we didn't sign Golden Tate too. We could have painted a spud on the helmets and renamed the team the "Taters"

Puts us over the top on an improved O.

Hoyer starting QB game 1. Unless another beats him out.

RBs. Tate, Lewis, Baker n Fozzy - one will go and it will probably the last one listed.

WRs. Gordon, Little, Hawkins (99% sure) Benjamin and Cooper.

TEs: Cameron, (new guy who can block and catch if need be), several others on our roster to compete on the back end.

Joe T, Greco, Mack (99%), Pinkston, Schwartz

And upgrades possibly from the draft

The team is looking good. Now to get them in the system and all on the same page...
I'm very happy and I really don't see us doing much more in FA possibly a bottom part of the roster here n there for competition in the depth.

Jmho