Did tasty doughnuts make Seahawks' Tate go nuts?
ERIC D. WILLIAMS; Staff reporter
Renton – In the end, the wafting scent of freshly fried maple bars proved too tempting to resist.
Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate confirmed a report he and a friend received a warning for trespassing by police at Top Pot Doughnuts in Bellevue over the weekend
According to a report, Tate and his friend slipped into the store at 3 a.m. Saturday and had a couple doughnuts on the house. The storekeeper called the police once he noticed they were in the store. Tate, who lives in the same building that the Top Pot is located, was questioned by the police along with his friend, but later allowed to go free with just a warning.
“They’re irresistible,” Tate said. “It was kind of a foolish mistake that won’t happen again. But if you ever want some maple bars, that’s the place to go.”
According to Mark Klebeck, co-founder of Top Pot Doughnuts, Tate and his friend gained entry into the bakery after a door was left open by an employee who had left to use the restroom.
Top Pot recently brokered a deal to sell doughnuts and coffee during Seahawks and Sounders games at Qwest Field. Top Pot also received some free publicity courtesy of the 21-year-old Notre Dame product’s poor decision making.
“A buddy made the mistake of going in, grabbing a couple,” Tate said. “He came out, we ate them. There’s nothing much to the story other than that. I’m very apologetic to it. This is the wrong type of media I want to bring to this organization. I apologized to the team, the coaches and even Top Pot. As of now I think that’s the end of it.”
Tongue firmly implanted in his cheek, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll also addressed the Tate issue.
“I’m not disappointed in the guy being at a doughnut shop when they’ve got maple bars like Top Pot has,” Carroll quipped. “However, under the circumstances I think they were closed, or something like that, or they were trying to close or whatever. So that’s definitely wrong, and we’ve talked about it and addressed it. And he’s most remorseful and all of that.
“But I do understand the allure of the maple bars.”
HILL NOT WITH TEAM
Linebacker Leroy Hill’s return to the Seahawks remains in limbo. Hill has not been allowed to report to the team’s offseason workouts, as Pete Carroll asked him to stay away as he works through legal issues.
Hill has a court date Friday regarding allegations he was involved in a domestic dispute with his then-live-in girlfriend at his Issaquah home in April. Carroll admits the practice time Hill is missing could prove costly.
“If that didn’t matter, then why would you practice?” Carroll said. “Practice is hugely important. There’s a new system. There’s a whole new approach to how we’re doing things. And it’s certainly hindered his opportunity. Without question, the other guys have rocketed ahead with their chances and taken advantage of that.
“That’s just part of the competition. You do what you can with your opportunities. So he’s going to have to battle back if we can get him back out there.”
EXTRA POINTS
According to agent Marc Lillibridge, the team agreed to terms with defensive end Will Tukuafu. Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed and the team did not confirm the deal. Tukuafu, 26, earned second-team All-Pacific-10 Conference honors his senior season at Oregon, and at 6-foot-3, 266 pounds should provide enough versatility to play both strong and weak-side defensive end positions. … Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh worked on routes and caught passes after practice for the first time this offseason since receiving surgery for sports hernia. Houshmandzadeh is expected to be ready for training camp at the end of July. ... Defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson, who moved to Seattle along with LenDale White in a draft day trade with Tennessee, practiced for the first time since joining the team. Vickerson had been nursing a hamstring injury. … University of Washington product Isaiah Stanback worked with the Seahawks for the first time since the team claimed him off of waivers. Stanback wore No. 14. …Leon Washington switched numbers from No. 30 to No. 33.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437 eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
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