Austin Seferian-Jenkins About To Cash In
February 18th, 2018
Cash time
Joe wonders what Cameron Brate is thinking this afternoon.
Brate, 26, is a restricted free agent and arguably the Bucs’ most consistent pass catcher, hauling in a whopping 68 percent of the balls thrown his way over the past three seasons. During that span, Brate has caught 17 touchdowns and missed just three games.
He’s a lot more valuable than 25-year-old Austin Seferian-Jackwagon, Tampa Bay’s big investment in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Bust!!
Partying, getting kicked out of spring practice, injuries, legal troubles and a yearning to defecate in a police cruiser got ASJ booted from the Bucs early in the 2016 season. With a little help from wide receiver Brandon Marshall, ASJ landed with the New York Jets and then got himself sober, leaner and focused before the 2017 season.
He finished last year with a career high 50 receptions, albeit for just 357 yards and three touchdowns. A favorite target of Josh McCown (sorry for the painful memories), ASJ appears to be sitting on a pay day of greater than $4 million per year, per longtime Jets beat writer Ralph Vacchiano.
ASJ even turned down a contract extension already, per Vacchiano, but the sides are expected to work things out.
That’s great for ASJ, but what about Brate?
During a recent Ira Kaufman Podcast, the Sage of Tampa Bay sports revealed that he recently had breakfast with Brate. The chatter was not for publication, Ira said, but he assured readers that Brate was confident Tampa Bay would put a contract extension in front of him — rather than just being willing to slap him with the typical restricted free agent tender that would pay about $3 million or $4 million for 2018 only.
If ASJ scores, say, $4.5 million annually, then what would Brate be worth? And where might the Bucs stand on making big investments in two tight ends and two wide receivers?
February 18th, 2018 at 5:43 pm
Whoever signs ASJ jackwagon has it coming to them. He is the #1 candidate to go on a three year hiatus after signing a long term lucrative cl Tracy extension. All he will be able to do/think about is get drunk and sleep with married women. DONT KID YOURSELVES NFL GMs!
February 18th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Joe,
Can you guys post on JoeRaysFan.com?
I would like to voice my displeasure of the Rays FO, specifically their terrible decision making.
How does Stu aster Berg really feel like he needs to make more $?
He comes across as a good digging need, incapable of producing.
Sell the team to Vinik, a true owner and greater human being.
February 18th, 2018 at 6:19 pm
Is Tampa just too much fun or just that boring for all these guys to get into all this kind of trouble? Even if it’s not something as serious as punching your wife in an elevator, it seems like we get in more trouble than other teams.
February 18th, 2018 at 6:22 pm
SteveK I hear ya. I care so little for that franchise bescause their are no players to follow. Every time I get a favorite player they trade him away. Now that Longo is gone I’m done attending games til they get a new stadium.
I suspect they are going cheap til they buy that new field. I guess we shall see how it goes from there.
February 18th, 2018 at 6:28 pm
I don’t consider ASJ a bust. That’s because he has the talent. Our team just couldn’t get the most out of him.
Draft for talent then you gotta have the team and coaching to have it translate on the field. Good pick…..Maybe we were the wrong team but sometimes these kids still need to grow up.
February 18th, 2018 at 7:03 pm
Trade Brate for a 2nd rounder and pick ASJ back up.
February 18th, 2018 at 7:03 pm
I’d bet ASJ’s troubles aren’t over…I don’t blame his coaches for his jackass behavior….how did Brate turn out with the same staff? Usually it’s the player.
February 18th, 2018 at 7:06 pm
The guy clearly has a ton of talent, but he really left the Bucs with no choice. I’m not one of those panic mongers who think you dump a guy everything something is alleged, or even like a DUI if it’s the first time, but ASJ was a complete F up here and he game the team little choice. I said at the time, and still believe it, if he can just not F up he’ll be a top player – you can watch him play and see he’s something special.
As for Brate when he hits UFA after next season he’ll get at least $7m a year, which is why now is the time to trade him if the Bucs can get something of real value – like a DE (probably would need to include a draft pick as well to land a DE). BUT, if the Bucs can’t get much of value then you certainly keep him on a 2nd round tender and see how this year goes and just make sure that OJ lives up to what we’ve seen so far. However 2 TEs is better than one and if the Bucs could resign him, if they run an offense that takes advantage of both TEs, then $7m for a TE is cheaper than a lot of WRs that will provide less production, so it’s not out of the question the Bucs extend him.
February 18th, 2018 at 7:24 pm
5-6 million for Brate no problem !! a young very productive player….money well spent !…
February 18th, 2018 at 7:27 pm
ASJ can’t work the field like Brate….ASJ is just a big greatly talented lug
February 18th, 2018 at 7:28 pm
Good teams know the value of what their players are worth on the open market and know how hard it is to replace them via the draft or FA. Now its a decision of pay or replace.
How many receivers have the Steelers developed then let go only to reload – the bucs have got to get there…
February 18th, 2018 at 7:44 pm
Give Mr. Brate he dough. !
February 18th, 2018 at 7:45 pm
Buyer be ware with ASJ! Nothing personal but he always spoke out of both sides of his mouth here and a tiger does not change his stripes. He will regress to who he is!
February 18th, 2018 at 7:52 pm
ASJ played pretty well down the stretch last year so bust is the wrong adjective.
Brate will get paid by the Bucs or another but I think if the right DE could be had in a trade that it may be time to turn the TE reigns over to OJ.
February 18th, 2018 at 8:04 pm
Alterego,
You are an idiot.
February 18th, 2018 at 8:30 pm
Are we the Browns light?
February 18th, 2018 at 8:41 pm
Brate is in a position to demand at least $6M per year on a multi year deal – and get it!
Nice job Harvard! Good on ya my man. Way to bust your butt and never give up on yourself, your work habits or your desire to make some noise in the pro league
Bucs will gladly pay up – seeing as how we have Howard for relatively cheap for 3 more years.
I’m curious to know how coaches felt about Auclair’s progress this last year. How about asking around Joe?
February 18th, 2018 at 10:04 pm
With Brate/OJ/Auclair, we have the best “young” core of TE’s in the NFL … I love it!
February 18th, 2018 at 10:06 pm
The only reason ASJ had any type of success with the Jets is because he saw it as his last chance.
Calling for anyone of the cast-offs to come back like Bennett, Talib, or ASJ lacks foresight because we wouldn’t get the best part of them to arrive with them. They would never live up to the contracts.
February 18th, 2018 at 10:31 pm
2nd coming of Jerramy Stevens, so glad we flushed this turd.
February 18th, 2018 at 11:02 pm
Approximately 6-7 mil AAV over 4 years sounds about right for the Hahvard man. Hope they can get his deal done soon.
February 18th, 2018 at 11:11 pm
so glad licht is our gm who else builds a team thru TE & LB, the bucs are only 5 years away from building a solid franchise, way to go licht
February 19th, 2018 at 2:04 am
Joe what’s your point? You have stated the Glazers have $80 million in cap space. Why try to make some controversy about signing Brate for $4 or $5 million.
February 19th, 2018 at 6:24 am
I think BigAlbino, Pickgrin and Aaron are on the right track. Players like Auclair were drafted to take make high level trades possible. Brate has definitely earned the money, but I suspect he’ll be getting all or the majority of it from another franchise.
February 19th, 2018 at 7:01 am
Seferian-Jenkins spent the last week in Israel, btw. For some reason.