Initially, Golden Tate spoke about giving the Seattle Seahawks a hometown discount when the subject of his next contract comes up. However, as times goes by he sounds less and less likely like someone actually looking to get paid less, which means he might have to find himself another team if the prices and numbers with the Super Bowl champions don’t match.

Tate caught 64 passes for 898 yards and 5 touchdowns in his fourth season with the Seattle Seahawks, arguably his best in the NFL since entering the league in 2010. He wasn’t much of a factor in the playoffs, catching a total of 8 passes for 61 yards in three playoff games.

Right after the Super Bowl, the 25-year old receiver spoke about his desire to stay with the Seahawks, and how he’s willing to make financial sacrifices to make that happen. A few days later, something has changed: Maybe his agent saying something, or maybe Tate realizing that offering yourself for less isn’t exactly the best way to go about your negotiation business.

I still have to take care of myself and my family.  I kind of have a number in mind, I haven’t talked to my agent yet I kind of been trying to enjoy the Super Bowl for now, and then take that next step hopefully within the next week or two once things settle down. In my eyes I’d rather stay and play in a great organization, in a great city around great people, around great teammates for a little less than going to a crappy city and win a ball game every now and then and be miserable for six months and have a fan base that doesn’t care about the sport. You have to give a little or take a little.  We’ll see how it works out, hopefully it works out.  Like I said I think I’ve done everything in my power to earn the respect and the trust of this organization.  They know what they’re going to get from me; they know I’m going to work hard.  The last two seasons that I’ve started I think I’ve missed a total of one game so I think I’m reliable.  I know the system.  I know what Coach Carroll wants so we’ll see.  Hopefully things work out.

The Seahawks are paying big money to Percy Harvin, hopefully completely healthy next season. Doug Baldwin is also a free agent this season, which means that the Seahawks will probably have to make a choice between the two, producing similar numbers and of the same age, knowing they also have to think about extensions to Richard Sherman and later on Russell Wilson.

Tate isn’t a #1 kind of receiver, shouldn’t be paid like one as well. He’ll find a team if he leaves for good money: The 49ers, Cardinals and Rams would love to add him if only for the chance of weakening the Seahawks, but there should be a pretty good market for a good, tough and durable receiver.

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