By virtue of the eyeball test as well as the box score, Ben Tate outplayed Arian Foster in the Houston Texans' Week 1 comeback victory over the San Diego Chargers.
That performance has earned Tate at least a temporary timeshare, but the former second-round draft pick made it clear that he's not satisfied playing second-fiddle to Foster.
"I would be lying to you if I told you that I embraced the complement role to someone else," Tate told Ross Jones of FOXSports.com. "That's not why I wanted to be in the NFL. That's not my dream to complement someone else. That's not what my attitude or why I work out is to complement someone else."
Tate added that he's merely being honest about his "competitive" nature, pointing out that he and Foster are "both mature about the situation."
As we pointed out on Wednesday's edition of the "Around The League Podcast", Foster will regain the lead-back role once he knocks the rust off. If Tate continues to outplay Foster, however, the tandem attack is here to stay.
The biggest takeaway from Tate's sentiment regards his future. He clearly wants a featured role of his own, which appears to be the most likely scenario next season with free agency looming.
As perhaps the best mix of talent, age and demonstrated production to hit the running-back market since Michael Turner landed a six-year, $34.5 million contract from the Atlanta Falcons in 2008, Tate owes it to himself to gauge his value with the other 31 teams.
With J.J. Watt closing in on a mega-deal and the veteran duo of Antonio Smith and Wade Smithalso due to hit free agency, Tate has the look of a luxury item the Texans will no longer be able to afford in 2014.
The alternative would be cutting ties with Foster two years after locking him up with a five-year, $43.5 million contract.
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