Golden Tate is inactive and will not join the NY Giants this weekend when they play the Washington Football Team.
It’s shocking that a game between a one-win team and a two-win team would have such important playoff implications. But that’s 2020 in a nutshell. And if the NY Giants want to keep their absurd chance to claim the top spot of the NFC East, they’ll have to do it without Golden Tate.
Head coach Joe Judge made the decision to bench Tate when the Giants travel to Washington. This comes off a week where Tate barely participated in the Giants practices, and after a Tweet sent by Tate’s wife complaining that the Giants are underutilizing the wide receiver.
Some may think the Giants are hurting their chances of winning by leaving one of their only offensive weapons at home. But Judge made the right call, for three reasons in particular.
Let’s go through each of these reasons now:
From his very first press conference, it was clear that Judge would be an old school, no nonsense head coach. He learned it from Bill Belichick, but even though many scoffed at Judge’s demeanor as the latest Belichick imitation, he has proved this is exactly who he is.
And the team has responded to it. Despite a 1-7 record, the Giants have been in just about every game they’ve played because of the effort of the team. Effort is a direct reflection of a head coach, and his team fights hard for him.
And it’s not as though he hasn’t fought for and defended his players, Tate included. When Golden Tate and Jalen Ramsey fought in Week 4, Judge defended his player.
But the Giants traded away Odell Beckham Jr. for his ability to distract the rest of the team, as well as the organization. Judge seems to get the belief in “The Giants Way” and won’t let small distractions become season-long narratives.
One distraction appeared to be Tate’s limit. And it sends a big message to the rest of the team.
Daniel Jones should benefit from Tate’s absence. Jones has been struggling, and it won’t help to ask a young quarterback, who’s already dealing with issues on the field, to answer questions about issues off the field.
Jones now won’t have to worry about forcing to look Tate’s way during the matchup against Washington, and can focus on the players who are on the field.
Tate is third on the team in targets, yards, and receptions. But with Sterling Shepard back, the Giants have a more reliable player. Though he’s only played in four games, Shepard has as many receptions as Tate, and just one less target.
Clearly Jones has a strong rapport with Shepard. And now he won’t have to worry about offending Tate by throwing the ball Shepard’s way.
Though Tate is a veteran player with great talent, he has not acted so this week. And of all weeks to do it, a game that would put you in contention to fight for the division title is not a veteran move.
This week should have been all about beating Washington. But Tate has made it about him.
By leaving him behind, the players on the sideline can focus on the game. They don’t have to listen to Tate make a scene, or worry that his feelings would spill onto the field and cause any penalties.
Both sides of the ball can now focus and do their job, which is more important than pleasing one player.