Golden Tate admits to pass interference on controversial play

Golden Tate now admits he committed pass interference in the end zone on the final play of Monday night’s football game between Seattle and Green Bay.

How could the Seahawks receiver say otherwise? That play has been shown over and over since the replacement officials working that night credited Tate with a game-winning touchdown catch, a result that the NFL has since determined was incorrect because Tate clearly shoved Green Bay defender Sam Shields to the ground before going after the Hail Mary pass.

“The evidence shows on the film,” Tate told the Seattle Times on Tuesday. “But I never had intentions on cheating. I wasn’t trying to cheat. I was competing, it was in the moment. 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.”

Immediately after the game, Tate had told ESPN’s Lisa Salter “I don’t know what you’re talking about” in reference to the push-off in the endzone.

“At the time, right after the game, I hadn’t seen the replay,” Tate said Tuesday. “... A lot of people got a chance to see it on their DVR, rewind and play it 50 times on the big screen. But I didn’t have that opportunity. At that moment, I couldn’t tell you completely what had happened.”

Now that Tate has gotten that off his chest, is there anything else he’d like to own up to involving that play?

“A lot of people would just like for me to come out and say, ‘I did not catch that ball,’” Tate said incredulously of the play that was ruled as simultaneous possession between him and Shields and awarded in favor of Tate as the offensive player.

That’s not going to happen.

“I personally felt like I had the ball at that time,” Tate said. “Looking back, just off what I remember, I felt I had the ball in my hands. We both competed for the ball, and the call ended up going our way, and we won the game.”

He added that the NFL upheld the call the following day.

“It’s refreshing to know the NFL thinks they made the right call,” he said. “That should clear up a lot of things because they’re the ones that make the rules.”

ALSO:

NFL, officials end lockout with eight-year deal

Photos: Was it a touchdown or an interception

NFL commissioner couldn’t say this was none of his business