Brandon Tate Claimed By Cincinnati Bengals, According To Report

Adam Schefter reports that the Cincinnati Bengals have claimed former New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon Tate off waivers.

The addition of Chad Ochocinco and a training-camp injury had sent Tate hurtling down the Patriots’ list of receivers, and with the new rules on kickoffs, Tate wasn’t nearly as valuable to the Pats on special teams, either (he had 1,057 yards on kickoff returns last year).

But Tate was the Patriots’ third wide receiver last year, and he’s only in his third year in the league, so the Bengals are getting something here. What’s less clear is what the Bengals will do with him. They just drafted A.J. Green, Jerome Simpson played brilliantly at the end of last season, and Jordan Shipley is already a good third receiver.

The Patriots also lost fifth-round pick Lee Smith, as the tight end was claimed by the Buffalo Bills.

For more on the Patriots, check out Pats Pulpit. For more on the Cincinnati Bengals, check out Cincy Jungle.