Golden Tate: I Pushed Off But I Was Just Competing

Sep 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate (81) catches a 24-yard touchdown pass as Green Bay Packers players Sam Shields (37), and Jarrett Bush (24), and Charles Woodson (21) and Jarrett Williams (38) defend on the final play at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 14-12. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

It has been one of the most controversial calls in NFL history and it continues to be discussed among fans of the game — the game-winning hail mary touchdown catch by Golden Tate which many believe was an interception by Green Bay Packers defensive back M.D. Jennings. On top of the controversial call, people were unhappy with the offensive pass interference which went uncalled.

Tate pushed Packers cornerback Sam Shields in the back which knocked him right to the ground. That is the moment of the final play where some people are still caught up and disgusted with the replacement refs.

How does the main culprit of the controversy see the play? Tate admits that he pushed off but denies any cheating.

“I’m not going to deny pushing him,” Tate said, per the Seattle Times. “The evidence shows on the film. But like I said, I never had intentions on cheating. I wasn’t trying to cheat. I was competing, it was in the moment. Things are happening so quick. I honestly didn’t even notice I did. I didn’t try to hurt him or push him down to the ground, but it happened. It was so quick. It was just a reaction kind of thing.”

Not only does Tate deny any cheating but he stands firm that he believes he held simultaneous possession with Jennings.

“I personally felt like I had the ball,” Tate said. “We both fought, we both competed for the ball, and the call ended up going our way and winning the game.”

Tate did nothing wrong during the play. He was playing hard football until the final whistle and ended up winning his team the game. To fault him for his physical play on the final toss of the game is asinine. He did what he had to do to come up with the game-winning catch.

Let’s be honest, when is the last time you saw offensive pass interference called on a hail mary? Almost never.

It’s time to move on from the final play of the Monday Night Football game. What happened has happened and for whatever it is worth, I truly believe the replacement refs made the right call in that situation.

And hey, it’s helped Tate with his social media game.

“I moved up in followers by like five or six thousand,” Tate said. “I’m kind of becoming a big deal here.”