The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t wasting any time in trying to find a replacement running back for LeGarrette Blount, who was waived Tuesday after he walked off of the field prior to the end of the game against the Tennessee Titans Monday night.
According to Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network, someone from the Steelers called the Cleveland Browns Tuesday morning to find out why they waived running back Ben Tate earlier in the day.
Can tell you: someone on Steelers staff called someone on Browns staff this am and asked about Ben Tate's release (per one of the someones)
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) November 18, 2014
Immediately after Tate was waived by the Browns, several in the Cleveland media speculated that the move was made because the running back was unhappy with the playing time he was getting, but apparently a team source told ESPN’s Bob Holtzman that the move was primarily a football decision, instead.
“With all the transactions we make while constructing our roster, it will always be our intent to do what is best for our football team,” Browns general manager Ray Farmer said in a statement, per ESPN.com. “This move is no different and we wish Ben the best going forward.”
It’s important that the Steelers really do their homework on Tate as he isn’t likely to receive many carries in Pittsburgh if he is signed to back up starter Le’Veon Bell. The last thing the team needs is another situation like they had with Blount.
If the Steelers were to sign Tate, they would likely want to wait until he clears waivers unless they are willing to absorb the terms of his current contract.
So far this season Tate has carried the ball 106 times for 333 yards and four touchdowns. He’s also caught nine passes for another 60 yards.
UPDATE: Scott Brown of ESPN.com is now reporting that he is hearing that Steelers have no interest in signing Tate.
