Browns' Young Backfield, Defensive Injuries Made Ben Tate Easily Expendable

The Cleveland Browns announced on Tuesday they have released running back Ben Tate:

The move comes two days after a clearly disgruntled Tate would not speak to reporters after the team's loss to the Houston Texans, saying, "Why do you want to talk to me? I didn't play a down." Tate did, in fact, play a down—17 to be exact, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His impact wasn't felt much, though, with two rushes for minus-nine yards and one pass target with no catches.

It also comes a day after Browns head coach Mike Pettine said, via ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, that the team opted to feature rookie backs Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell more because, "There's an explosiveness there with the young backs, just a little bit more pop."

At the time, Pettine would not speak about whether any problems with Tate's demeanor helped spur the decision. However, Tate had not been happy recently, saying just a week ago that the team's three-back rotation was "not [satisfying]," adding, "but whatever the organization thinks is best for the team, that's what they are going to do."

Player	Atts.	Rush Yds.	YPR	Rush TD	Fum.	Fum. L	Tgts.	Rec.	Rec. Yds.	Rec. TD
Tate	106	333	3.1	4	0	0	12	9	60	0
West	112	408	3.6	3	0	0	8	7	39	1
Crowell	78	358	4.6	5	3	2	8	5	46	0

It's true that West and Crowell combined to push Tate off the roster. The writing was on the wall. His snaps have been steadily on the decline since their Week 6 high, in which he played 71.2 percent of the Browns' offensive snaps. That went down to 55 percent in Week 8, 44.8 percent in Week 9, 32.5 percent in Week 10 and, finally, just 21.5 percent against Houston.

This was for good reason, as well. Tate just simply has not been as productive as the Browns hoped when they signed him to a two-year, $6.2 million contract during free agency. He's rushed 106 times, netting just 333 yards—a yards-per-carry average of 3.1—for four touchdowns. He's also caught nine passes on 12 targets for 60 yards and no scores.

Pettine was correct in his assessment that the two rookies are more explosive, dynamic backs. West is currently the Browns' leading rusher with 408 yards on 112 carries for three touchdowns. He also has a receiving touchdown.

David Richard/Associated Press

Crowell is in hot pursuit, with 78 carries for 358 yards and five touchdowns. He leads the team in yards-per-carry average, at 4.6, but also has fumbled three times, two of them lost. He also has five catches on eight targets for 46 yards.

Per Mary Kay Cabot, Tate said in June that:

"

I know when I'm on my game—no disrespect to any other running back here—but there's no one that can touch me or that's close to what I do. I battled in and out every day with what some people consider the best running back in the league in Arian Foster. I've seen the best. I went against him every day. I battled it, so this around here to me is really not anything.

"

But now, five months later, it's clear that West and Crowell were in fact "close" to what he does—and indeed, better, in the eyes of the Browns. And Tate's recent discontentment didn't help. NFL Network's Albert Breer recently spent time with the Browns and had this to say on why Tate's release came now:

However, there is more at play with this release than just Tate's attitude or the rushing prowess of the Crowell-West duo. There are also the myriad defensive injuries to consider.

Linebacker Karlos Dansby could miss a month or more with his knee injury. Fellow linebacker Jabaal Sheard could be done for the year with his foot injury. Defensive end Phil Taylor's season ended last week with a knee injury. And the Browns are also without linebacker Armonty Bryant, out with a torn ACL, and defensive lineman John Hughes until Week 17.

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Tate's release frees up a roster spot not just for a returning Josh Gordon, but also to add another defensive player, whether that means calling one up from the practice squad or signing one from outside the organization. The Browns front seven is in a crisis situation while their running backs corps is not. Tate became expendable.

And that's just the nature of life in the NFL, especially for a running back. Tate was convinced he was the Browns' best rusher, until he wasn't. He became vocally upset about this development, stopped being a team player and played himself off of the roster. 

With Crowell and West playing well and the defense reeling from injuries, Tuesday's announcement was just the inevitable end of an unsuccessful stint for Tate in Cleveland.