For teams and players out of the playoff race, the last three weeks are about an eye to the future, and changes that are coming.
But even though the next three weeks could be his last in Houston, Texans running back Ben Tate said he’s trying to keep those thoughts at arm’s length.
“That’s something I can’t really answer right now,” Tate said when asked if he wanted to return, via Brian Smith of the Houston Chronicle. “Just the fact so many things are going to change once the season’s over — different head coaches, different people fired everywhere else. That’s something I haven’t really thought about yet. That’s something I’ll probably think about after the next three weeks.”
Not knowing who the coach will be is one thing. But Tate’s in the final year of his rookie contract, and the Texans’ next coach will inherit Arian Foster’s new deal as well. So the likelihood of Tate hanging around are slim.
He’s shown toughness this season, playing through broken ribs. And while the market for backs hasn’t been strong, he should still be able to find a role of his own and a raise elsewhere.