Pete Carroll

Seattle coach Pete Carroll answers questions during Super Bowl media day Tuesday in Phoenix.

(AP Photo)

PHOENIX -- Golden Tate says he was lowballed by the Seahawks last offseason. He's gone so far as to call their contract offer "laughable."

Why would Seattle not offer a more competitive contract to its best receiver?

Coach Pete Carroll intimated the Seahawks actually didn't lowball Tate, and that a breakdown in communication caused Tate to be left out of the loop.

"He wasn't told what the offer was until three weeks later," Carroll said Tuesday during Super Bowl media day at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix.

And by that time, Tate had long signed a five-year, $31 million deal with the Detroit Lions.

"I was really disappointed in how that process went," Carroll said. "He didn't know what the offer was for a long time. He thought we didn't (offer him a competitive deal)."

Tate has said he remains a fan of his former teammates, and roots for the Seahawks whenever they're not playing Detroit. But he's also voiced his frustration with the Seahawks' offer several times since signing with the Lions.

Carroll said he's not offended.

"It was nothing in his fault at all," Carroll said. "He did nothing wrong."

Seattle's receivers have struggled without Tate. Doug Baldwin led the group this year with 66 catches for 825 yards. No other Seahawks wideout had more than 38 catches.

Tate finished with 99 catches for 1,331 yards and was named to his first Pro Bowl.

"We were so close -- obviously as teammates -- but as friends, we were so close. You miss him," Baldwin said. "For three years I had grown close to him, so losing a guy like that is like losing a close friend. We definitely miss him in the locker room."

Does Carroll regret not re-signing Tate?

"I would have loved to have had him," Carroll said. "I thought he was a great player. I always loved Golden. One of my favorite guys. Then I hated that he had to go somewhere else. But, I congratulate him. He had a great season and it was fun watching him."

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