With His Suspension Over, Golden Tate Can't Wait to Hit the Field

Now that Giants receiver Golden Tate's league-mandated four-game suspension is over, he couldn't wait to get back to East Rutherford to be with his teammates.

Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

The first four weeks of the 2019 season have seemingly flown by in a snap.

Well, not for Giants receiver Golden Tate, who spent the first month of the season serving a four-game league-imposed suspension that mandated he stay away from his teammates and coaches.

With Tate's suspension now behind him, the 31-year-old receiver is champing at the bit to get back at it this week, and yes, that includes taking the hits that come as part of the deal.

"Oh yeah, I have been waiting a long time for the hits," Tate said Monday. "I’m excited to be back. I had a big smile on my face yesterday and today. It’s great to be back. I’m ready to get back to work."

When Tate and his teammates hit the field Wednesday to begin preparing for this weekend's home game against the Vikings, he'll be working with Daniel Jones, who, of course, was named the starter two games into Tate's suspension.

But thanks to the preseason work he was able to get with the rookie, pa Tate feels that he should be ready to hit the ground running once he gets in the huddle with Jones, whose play has the veteran receiver excited.

"He’s slippery, he finds his way out of some sticky situations and makes plays," Tate said. "Obviously, he’s helped us win. Watching from afar, his decision making has been great, I think.

"I’m here to help him, helping his development, help make some plays and take some pressure off of him and just help us continue to win."

And speaking of helping, Tate, who spent his suspension at his home in San Diego where he kept up with his workouts, training, and rehab while also taking advantage of quality time with his young family, said when he does return to the lineup, he wants to fit into what the team has already been doing.

"I just want to come in and be a spark, an addition to what we’re doing, just help everybody around me get better and just be myself," Tate said.

" There is no secret that in the slot I’m pretty dangerous once I get the ball in my hands. I feel like I’m pretty dangerous on third down. Hopefully, I am utilized that way--whatever it takes to win."

Regardless of how the coaching staff plans to take advantage of his talents, Tate is just thankful that his ordeal is behind him, and he gets a chance to go back to doing what he loves.

"These four weeks have been very long for me," he said. "I have just been thinking about football, ready to get back out here and the time is now.

"We just want to get another win, go 1-0 this week and keep this thing rolling. As you can probably see in this locker room, the vibe is great. When you win, it’s all great, so we’ll see."

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