Few players put up the kind of numbers Golden Tate did during his run with the Lions.
In fact, just one: Antonio Brown.
Otherwise, Tate was the only receiver in the NFL with at least 90 receptions and 800 yards every season from 2014-17. And Tate, throughout his time in Detrot, attributed a lot of that production to Matthew Stafford.
He continually vouched for Stafford's talent and toughness. He said Stafford deserved better from the teams around him. This summer, Tate said Stafford is the best quarterback he's ever played with -- a list that includes Russell Wilson and, for five games, Carson Wentz.
The two will be square off when the Giants visit the Lions Sunday at Ford Field, but Tate isn't done beating the Stafford drum. He said in a recent interview with the Free Press that Stafford would have "a couple rings" had he played for better teams up to this point in his career.
"This dude has performed at a playoff-type of level year in and year out, in my mind," Tate said. "I believe in his career he didn't have enough weapons, or other people were the problem. I don't want to sell anyone out, but I just think if you throw Stafford into New Orleans right now or Green Bay right now, or back when they had all those incredible players, I think this guy has a couple rings, for one. That's my opinion.
"That's nothing against Russell Wilson, cause Russell Wilson's also a great quarterback and makes plays and he's good for that organization. But you're talking about pure passer, I'm taking Stafford all day. There's not a throw that he cannot make, for one, and the guy just (throws) you open. His ball placement is incredible. There's been times where I'm like, 'Ah (shoot), I'm covered,' and he throws it to me and it's like low and outside where only I can make that play. That's pretty incredible as you have 10 other guys chasing you down, trying to knock the (crap) out of you."
Over his four and a half seasons with Stafford, Tate caught 416 passes for 4,741 yards and 22 touchdowns. A good chunk of those yards came after the catch, another thing for which Tate gave his quarterback credit.
"Honestly, part of me being, I guess, quote-unquote the 'YAC king' or so good at YAC is on Stafford because he gets the ball to you so quickly that you have time to decipher what the defense is doing or what angle they're taking and then you can make the play," Tate said. "As you can look at the stats, I think Stafford and I really enjoyed playing with each other."
