As Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate ran his 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine this weekend, Beane was caught on a hot microphone delivering a brutal assessment:
“He’s pretty slow, I probably wouldn’t take him early.”tate recorded a 4.54-second 40-yard dash—respectable but not elite for a wide receiver prospect.
Fans had mixed reactions to Beane’s candid comment.“These GMs still are getting fooled by the 40-yard dash🤦🏾♂️,” one commenter wrote.
“The man said it loud enough for everyone to hear and that’s not an accident. You don’t trash talk a prospect at the combine unless you want that narrative out there.
“This is just Beane trying to scare off the other GMs so he can pair Josh Allen with another elite Ohio State receiver. The grind to get a WR1 never stops,” someone else suggested.
Tate hauled in 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns for the Buckeyes last season—impressive production regardless of his 40 time.
Whether Beane was being genuine or playing 4D chess to manipulate draft stock, only time will tell.
Brandon Beane said what he said. Whether he meant it or not, Carnell Tate now has bulletin board material for the rest of his career.
And if the Bills do end up drafting him, the pre-draft trash talk will make for one heck of a story.