Tate Says Broyles Will Get 'A Lot More Time' In Offense If Johnson Does Not Play
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
ALLEN PARK (CBS DETROIT) - When Detroit Lions wide receiver Ryan Broyles sent out a tweet Sunday that read in part, "It's tough to keep a smile on your face when you feel like u are being held back," his words appeared to stem from frustration with his lack of playing time this season.
Broyles did not speak to media after issuing the tweet, and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell's only remark Wednesday was that he met with Broyles and that there were no issues that needed to be resolved.
Wide receiver Golden Tate, who said he has not spoken to Broyles about the tweet, said the message was not a big deal.
"I think sometimes we forget that we're not a normal person where we can just tweet something, tweet our frustrations," Tate said. "We all have been through it. We all have been frustrated at some point. I know I've tweeted stuff out in the past, but at the end of the day, you've just got to understand that although he probably meant something totally different than what he typed, people are going to take their own impressions of it, and they see it in different perspectives.
"I think Coach Caldwell would listen to any concerns, good or bad, that you have and really give the best insight he possibly can, and so I think if anyone, I think we should all learn from that situation and just trust in what we have here," Tate continued. "If we have any problems, let's solve it in the locker room or in this place versus letting the world and the social media and the media get involved because then you draw distractions to us ... You never want to draw negative attention to whoever you're working for."
Before Wednesday's conversation turned to the Twitter situation with Broyles, Tate had hinted that the former second-round draft pick could get more playing time Sunday in the expected absence of star wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who has been dealing with an ankle injury.
"I think it affects guys like Ryan Broyles, who's going to get a lot more time, and [Corey] Fuller and [Jeremy] Ross, like those guys, and those guys are ready for their moment," Tate said. "They're ready to step up and help us win as they did last week, so we want Calvin out there, but it is what it is. This is a very physical game, and injuries are part of it, but we're going to be prepared, and I think the coaching staff and the scouting department have built a team that can win without some of the key players.
"Hopefully it starts with this week, and if [Broyles] handles it well and plays well, which we expect him to, just based off the camp he's had and the season he's had already, when his name's been called, I can definitely see, hopefully, some packages being dialed up," Tate continued, "but then again, I don't draw the plays, I don't make the personnel. That's up to the way he plays and the coaching staff. But I think he's a great talent. I think he's a huge asset for this team."
Broyles has been targeted just twice in three games so far this season.
