With Pittsburgh Steelers starting running back Le’Veon Bell currently nursing a right knee injury that could potentially prevent him from playing Saturday night in the AFC Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens, the team decided Tuesday to sign veteran free agent running back Ben Tate as insurance. Tate talked to the local media for the first time Wednesday after his first practice with his new team.
“Whatever way I can help, it really doesn’t matter to me,” Tate said “Whatever it is, my job right now is to pick up this offense and learn as much as I can.”
As far as the Steelers offense goes, Tate was asked if he sees any similarities in it when comparing it to other offenses that he’s played in during his career. His one word answer was a bit surprising.
“No,” he said.
Tate, who is now on his third team this season after previously playing for the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings, still isn’t really sure what his role will be with the Steelers moving forward.
“I really don’t know. I just got here,” he said. “I haven’t even been here 24 hours, yet. So, I’m just focusing on trying to learn the playbook, and everything else will work itself out.”
While Tate might not be able to help the ream much Saturday night against the Ravens if Bell doesn’t play, he sure made a good first impression on his new teammates as to where his mind is at.
“He stood up in our team meeting room and said he’s just here to help us win,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday. “If that’s the attitude, the mindset, we’re all for it.”
