His former Seattle Seahawks teammates are preparing for Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday
Saturday 31 January 2015 15:29, UK
Golden Tate says his Detroit Lions team has the chance to reach next year’s Super Bowl as he looks on with envy at the Seattle Seahawks playing the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Tate played for the Seahawks in their 43-8 triumph over the Denver Broncos in last year’s Super Bowl before moving to the Lions.
“I don’t think anything is going to stop them,” Tate told Sky Sports. “I have some really good friends on Seattle’s team so obviously I’m rooting for those guys to do well.
“There’s a bit of envy there. But I don’t regret any decision I’ve made, and obviously the goal is to get back there now with Detroit.
“We didn’t end up where we wanted to this time out but we have a great opportunity next year with a lot of good things already in place, if we draft well and have a strong offseason.”
The Lions went 11-5 in 2014 and made the play-offs, with Tate posting his best ever season of 1,331 receiving yards – the first time he’d topped the 1,000 mark.
Although the Lions fell at the first hurdle, a 24-20 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys, Tate again impressed with 89 yards and a touchdown. He says his hunger to win a second title will also be felt by his former team-mates.
“I’m super fortunate and blessed to call myself a Super Bowl champion,” said Tate. “Out of the thousands of players who play or have played the game, there are only a select few who can say they’ve even gone to a play-off game, let alone be a Super Bowl champion.
“But after being a part of it [the first Super Bowl win] last year, I know I’m so much more hungry to win another.
“That feeling of knowing all eyes are on you, that millions of people are watching.”
Instead Tate is in the UK to watch Sunday’s game – he’ll be a guest at the Super Bash party at the indig02 – but some other sports have grabbed his attention during his visit.
“I watch a lot of football,” he said. “Mainly because I play the video game FIFA. But I was also watching some cricket on the TV earlier and it looked super fun, so it’s something I would like to try.”
If he doesn’t get to try it on this visit, Tate might get the chance when the Lions again play at Wembley against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, November 1, following a thrilling 22-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons at the same venue this year.
“That was a great experience,” added Tate. “The fan base was awesome, there’s a lot of passion for the game over here, you can tell.
“I’m all for expanding our sport internationally and I think a franchise over here could work but it would be very tough on the players.
“You’d have eight home games, and I don’t really see how teams can constantly prepare themselves after all the 12-hour flights.”
“But if they iron out all the details and the logistics of it, I’m all for it.”
Watch live coverage of Super Bowl XLIX between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 3 at 10pm.
