Golden Tate now fully acknowledges getting away without a penalty on the controversial final play of the Seattle Seahawks' victory over the Green Bay Packers on Monday night but says the suggestion that he was trying to cheat is unfounded.
"A lot of people would just like for me to come out and say, 'I did not catch that ball,'" Tate said Wednesday, according to the Seattle Times, referring to the 24-yard touchdown reception he was credited with instead of an interception for Packers defensive back M.D. Jennings, who got his hands on the ball first.
After the game Monday night, Tate said, "I don't know what you're talking about," when ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters asked him whether he had pushed off against Packers defensive back Sam Shields.
But after watching the replay, he's telling a different story.
"The evidence shows on the film. But I never had intentions on cheating. I wasn't trying to cheat. I was competing, it was in the moment," he said, according to the Seattle Times. "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 just a reaction kind of thing. ...
"As far as pushing the defender, I was caught up in the moment, playing football. At that point, it was just like backyard football -- find a way to get the ball. I didn't intentionally try to shove him to the ground," he said, according to the newspaper.
Golden Tate wrote: