Waiting on Tate

Ain’t it the worst to get a new toy you can’t play with? Batteries not included can ruin the best surprises.

The Patriots took a chance with WR Brandon Tate when they drafted him in the third round. He suffered an ACL and MCL tear that cut short his senior season at North Carolina and hurt his draft status.

If healthy, Tate would had been a late first or early second round pick. Instead, his Tar Heels teammate Hakeem Nicks, shined when the spotlight turned his way and was selected in the first round by the New York Giants.

As for Tate, he was placed on the active/non-football injury list, putting his return up in the air as he rehabs from his injury.

There are two sides to New England’s Tate gamble. There’s a fair chance it doesn’t work out for Tate and the Patriots. New England missed more than they hit when it comes to drafting wide outs. Only Deion Branch and David Givens became players in New England.

Otherwise the Pats have little to show for the likes the P.K. Sam, Bethel Johnson, and Chad Jackson. Matt Slater is still a work in progress as he tries to establish himself as a returner.

Tate would be competing with Slater for that job, as well as going head-to-head against Julian Edelman for punt return duties. Tate was close to becoming the eleventh player in NCAA history to gain 1,000 yards in two return categories: punt return yards and kickoff return yards. Brandon had the speed, quickness, and instinct that could translate well to the pro level.

And that raises another question. What will Tate be when he’s fully recovered? Tate’s injury happened about a month after Tom Brady suffered his ACL-MCL tear. While Brady is already on the field trying to regain his feel, Tate remains on the sidelines.

Mobility is important for Brady, but Tate will ask a lot more out of his knee. He needs to build strength and flexibility to be able to plant and cut at full speed, and develop the confidence to not be concerned about the knee performing the way it should.

If there’s any reason for optimism, we can hope that Tate becomes a modern day version of Curtis Martin.

A severe ankle injury abbreviated Martin’s senior year at the University of Pittsburgh. That’s why he was available when the Patriots selected him in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft. It was the start of a Hall of Fame-caliber career for Martin.

Returners don’t get voted into the Hall of Fame, but it would be where Tate would start making an impact with the Patriots. He’s not going to start over Randy Moss or Wes Welker, but Joey Galloway is here for just one year. If Tate returns to his former self, he could have a breakthrough as the third receiver and returner.

That would be next year, if Tate’s breakthrough ever happens, that is.