New Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate has admitted his disappointment at the deal that he was offered by former club the Seattle Seahawks.
Tate had intentions of staying with the Super Bowl champions, having stated that he would "take a pay cut" to remain with Pete Carroll's outfit.
However, once offered a limited deal by the Seahawks, Tate opted to look elsewhere and signed a five-year contract with the Lions last week.
"I didn't mean a 40% discount," Tate told ESPN. "I'm going to earn in one year at Detroit what Seattle was going to pay me for two years. I thought, 'I've given you everything and this is what you give me?' Seattle offered numbers that were laughable.
"I was there for four years, started two of those and missed one game in those two years. I did everything right and wasn't a trouble maker. And what they offered, I was like, 'Is this serious?' The numbers they shot at me were not first-priority, like they said they wanted to do for me to stay in Seattle.
"I'm going to miss the city of Seattle, but I really had no choice. I did my very best to stay in Seattle. I leave with my head high."
The 25-year-old enjoyed the best season of his career so far in 2013, playing a key role in the successful Seahawks side, with 64 receptions for 898 yards and five touchdowns.
Joe McPhee
