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Spent the 2005 training camp with the team but was released on 9/3 in the final cuts. Re-signed with the team on 9/29, one day before the squad left for Mexico City to play San Francisco. In that game, recorded an interception and forced a fumble.
Pro Career:
A veteran of eight NFL seasons, Tate spent five years with head coach Dennis Green with the Minnesota Vikings and was reunited with Green on 2/26/04 after a one-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens in 2002 and spent one year out of football in 2003. Originally drafted by the Vikings in the sixth round (183rd overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft, Tate was drafted as a wide receiver but made the switch to defensive back midway through the 1999 season, and later became only the second player in Vikings history to record a pass reception and pass interception in the same season. Re-signed by the Cardinals on 2/13/06.
2005: Returned to the Cardinals on Thursday, 9/29 after being released on 9/3 at the 53-man cut down point saw action in every game after being re-signed returned to action in his first week back providing two tackles, an interception, forced fumble and a pass break up vs. SF (10/2) recorded his second interception in two weeks vs. Car (10/9) while adding five solo tackles and one pass defensed made his second consecutive start vs. Ten (10/23) and recorded one pass defensed and five tackles saw action in every game the rest of the season, primarily on special teams.
2004: Saw action in all 16 games of 2004, primarily on special teams recorded one tackle and one pass breakup in the season opener @ StL (9/12) notched three tackles, his highest total of the season vs. StL (12/19) and also defended one pass.
2003: Did not play, out of football.
2002: Played in 13 games with one starting assignment at cornerback with the Ravens collected 14 tackles and two pass deflections recorded three tackles on special teams three solo tackles and a pass deflection in 3827 win vs. Cin (11/10) five solos and one assist in 1312 victory vs. Ten (11/24), then started at left cornerback the next week @ Cin (12/1) and posted three stops in 2723 win inactive for final two regular-season contests.
2001: Played in all 16 games with starts at right cornerback in first three and final two games with the Vikings registered 31 tackles, six pass deflections, and four special teams tackles two tackles in season-opener vs. Car (9/9) season-best five solo stops vs. Jax (12/23) returned to starting lineup @ GB (12/30) and collected three tackles and a pass deflection impressive as starter in season finale @ Bal (1/7) with four tackles and career-best three pass deflections.
2000: Started all 16 regular-season games and two postseason outings at right cornerback for the Vikings achieved career-best single season totals of 70 tackles, two interceptions, and 13 pass deflections posted four tackles in 3027 season-opening win vs. Chi (9/3) recorded seven tackles and broke up two passes to fuel 3124 victory @ Det (10/1) in 3023 Monday Night victory vs. TB (10/9) collected five tackles and a forced fumble, then followed two weeks later vs. Buf (10/22) with five tackles, a forced fumble, and pass defensed in 31-27 victory four stops and a pass deflection @ TB (10/29) notched first career fumble recovery in 3114 win vs. Arz (11/12) recorded career-best 10 tackles and three pass deflections in 3117 defeat vs Car. (11/19) in regular-season finale @ Ind (12/24), recorded six tackles, intercepted one pass and batted away another credited with six tackles, a pass deflection, and pass interception in 3416 divisional playoff win vs NO (1/6) in NFC championship game @ NYG (1/14) logged six tackles, a forced fumble, another pass interception, and a pass defensed.
1999: Made conversion from wide receiver to defensive back during midseason and started season finale and two playoff contests at cornerback with the Vikings played in all 16 regular-season games at multiple positions recorded 16 tackles, eight pass deflections, and one interception in five regular-season games as nickel-back defender returned 25 kickoffs for 627 yards and 25.1-yard average, the latter good for fourth in the NFL returned six kickoffs for 177 yards and a 76-yard touchdown @ KC (12/12) 177 return yards ranked fifth in team history, while the touchdown was eighth kickoff return for a score in Viking annals coupled with Randy Moss’ punt return for a touchdown vs. Chiefs, it marked the first time in Viking history a kickoff and punt were returned for a touchdown in the same game seven tackles (six solos) and three pass deflections in 3417 win @ NYG (12/26) along with a Moe Williams kickoff return for touchdown in that game, was first time two kickoffs returned for score in same season in franchise history best game was season finale vs. Det (1/2) with seven tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception in 2417 victory seven kickoff returns for 151 yards in divisional playoff game @ StL (1/16) both single-game post-season records for the Vikings nine overall kickoff returns in postseason tied with David Palmer (1997) in team record books, while 178 return yards ranked second.
1998: Appeared in 15 games with one starting role for the Vikings returned two kickoffs for 43 yards, ranked third on team with 14 special teams tackles first career pass reception was 17-yard pass from quarterback Randall Cunningham to convert third down in 2814 win vs. GB (11/22) handed first pro starting assignment vs. Chi (12/6), a 4822 victory inactive for season finale @ Ten (12/26) with hamstring injury.
1997: Abbreviated rookie season due to ankle injury in four games, returned 10 kickoffs for 196 yards six kickoff returns netted just 62 yards @ Chi (9/7) season-long 36-yard return @ GB (9/21) suffered ankle injury vs. Phi (9/28) and inactive @ Arz (10/5) placed on injured reserve list 10/8 for remainder of season.
College:
Left Cincinnati ranked second in kickoff return yards (1,082), kickoff return average (26.4), and punt return yards (637) also fourth in all-purpose yards (3,304), fifth in receiving yards (1,549) and eithth in receptions (103) led nation in kickoff returns with school-record 34.3-yard average in 1995.
Personal:
Full name Robert Lee Tate attended John Harris High School in Harrisburg, Pa., the same school which produced Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green prep all-America running back with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons first four-sport letterman in school history majored in general studies at Cincinnati ... he and wife Sheree have three children-Shekia, Arriana and Robert III owns a hair salon in Harrisburg. | 