We hadn’t heard much from the Buccaneers since they cut bait with tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins yesterday. The former second-rounder was released by the organization after he was arrested for driving under the influence, and the organization was pretty tight-lipped when the transaction was announced.
Fortunately, coach Dirk Koetter finally discussed the move when he appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“Well, it is disappointing and Austin is a guy that we had high hopes for,” Koetter said (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “He was a second-round pick here a couple of years back. He has fought through some injury issues. He’s a very talented individual. It is disappointing when guys, when they make mistakes, and there’s more to every story than meets the eye. Sometimes there is more to it than things I can say on the radio. We wish Austin well. The number one thing is I am glad that Austin is safe and healthy. And I hope he can get himself healthy.”
Let’s check out some other notes pertaining to the embattled tight end…
- Seferian-Jenkins’ release from the Buccaneers was a “long time coming,” writes Sporting News’ Alex Marvez. Besides being charged with a misdemeanor DUI, Seferian-Jenkins was also charged with “circumventing a court-ordered ignition lock device,” which was placed in his car following another DUI arrest. The tight end had issues during his time at the University of Washington, and those problems apparently carried over to the NFL. Seferian-Jenkins was reportedly thrown out of practice for his lack of familiarity with the playbook, and the tight end also got in a shouting match with Koetter and other coaches during the Bucs’ preseason finale.
- Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times said (via Twitter) that Seferian-Jenkins’ release had “less to do with the DUI than his lack of professionalism and reliability.”
- Jeremy Fowler of ESPN notes (via Twitter) that the Buccaneers are “genuinely worried about” the tight end and hope he “gets straight.”
- Rich Cimini of ESPN.com wondered if the Jets could pursue the embattled tight end. Despite the team’s need for a pass-catcher at the position, Cimini can’t envision the front office pursuing the 23-year-old. The organization did bring in both Brandon Marshall and Erin Henderson, but the writer notes that both veterans have done an admirable job of repairing their “checkered” past. Seferian-Jenkins is still rather young and has yet to prove that he’s learned from his mistakes.