ASJ Melts Down
June 10th, 2016
This was all so predictable. In fact, it was virtually promised.
Bucs troubled third-string tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, mere hours after he was tossed out of practice by coach Dirk Koetter Thursday and bolted home, lashed out at angry fans on Twitter. It reached a point that Joe wouldn’t be surprised if the NFL itself stepped in with disciplinary action.
Joe is confident Team Glazer is ashen because one of its high-profile players invited fans on Twitter to visit One Buc Palace for a fistfight. This came in addition to ASJ suggesting a fan should have been aborted by his mother and — at best — lewd references if not veiled threats to one’s wife and another Twitterer’s mother.
This online tantrum was ignited after it became public knowledge that Koetter ran ASJ from practice — an OTA practice for crying out loud! — because “he didn’t know what he was doing.”
ASJ proceeded to go straight home — so he claimed on Twitter. Then he circled the drain while engaging frustrated fans on social media.
Interestingly, just prior to practice yesterday, ASJ retweeted a CNBC.com story about former Bucs color analyst, former WWE wrestling personality and former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura advocating the legalization of marijuana.
ASJ had a vague reference to “move on” after being told to leave the practice fields of One Buc Palace, which Joe initially read to be a way of saying he learned his lesson from Koetter and turned the page. Then, Joe noticed ASJ removed all references to the Bucs in his Twitter bio.
Talking to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times last week, ASJ vowed to come after anyone who disrespects him on Twitter saying, “You troll me, I’m going to troll you.” Last night, and not very wisely Joe might add, ASJ was true to his word.
ASJ may just want out of Tampa Bay. If that is indeed true, he’s doing a helluva job of getting the Bucs to wash their hands of him.
There is simply no way to justify ASJ’s actions last night. None. This is not to excuse the jerks who provoked ASJ, who is in the third year of a four-year, $5.254 million contract, but ASJ must be above this. He is a high profile representative of a billion dollar company. If ASJ is unable to use discretion on social media, he needs to shut down his Twitter account.
How many disparaging Twitters do you think America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, gets daily? Surely it’s far more vile than anything ASJ received yesterday. You never, ever see Jameis react like this. Not even close.
Given how there is a large pack of Bucs fans who can’t wait to dance on Gerald McCoy’s grave, how many numbnuts do you think GMC has to put up with on Twitter? He mostly ignores them, too.
There is a reason why there is a “block” button on Twitter. Someone might want to alert ASJ to this feature before he runs himself out of town. Given the last 24 hours, he’s making a stellar effort to reach that end.
June 10th, 2016 at 6:33 am
CYA DUMMY!!!
June 10th, 2016 at 7:02 am
Shoulda traded him during the draft. I like Brate better anyway.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:05 am
Dey Sheep, We Lions!!!!
Spoken by the leader of the Bucs JW3!!! In other words, don’t get hooked by fans, trolls and others!!! I would like to say, Oh a player had a bad day at work, went home and got into a Flame war on social media! But this is not the first time is it!!!! SMDH!!!
June 10th, 2016 at 7:09 am
If ASJ is not mentally tough enough to handle an offseason practice session what makes any of you ASJ apologists / defenders think he will be reliable during a high pressure regular season game. ASJ is a clown. He belongs in the IL cornfields with the other clowns that have recently left the bay.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:13 am
That 2014 Licht draft looking pretty suspect
June 10th, 2016 at 7:13 am
Like I’ve said before, it appears he doesnt have it between the ears to be in the league, and I don’t think it has anything to do with actual intelligence. I just don’t think he cares enough.
I won’t be surprised if they dump him.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:19 am
ASJ doesn’t have the durability to make it in the NFL. That being said Brate isn’t big enough to block on running plays and like last year you know when he’s in we’re passing. ASJ needs to stay on the field not only with his health but also mentally.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:22 am
My guess is if Jaboo wants him, he will be with the team, my guess they had a conversation last night and whatever Jameis is feeling about that conversation, will be the outcome. This is where leaders lead, when the team has a little controversy, that’s why NFL Network only follows the Eagles QB situation, the Pats Tom Brady and the Cowboys situation and of course newly placed Rams and the contracts and controversy with Broncos.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:24 am
This saddens me, this guy has not matured at all and continues to let low life twitter trolls get into his head. The reason im saddened is because we are loosing one hell of a talent at TE slowly but surely. IDK if he even wants to be a Buccaneer any more, if he doesn’t, theres no reason to keep him around. Then again, look at Jonathan Druion for example. There’s still time for him to pull his head out of his @$$, but it’s running out quickly.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:28 am
I just looked at his Twitter account LOL. Listen, we get people are going to say mean things since he is in the public eye but ASJ is a child. He crossed the by saying if a fan showed up he was going to punch them in the face. What a total joke. He clearly wants out of Tampa.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:33 am
I just hope that ASJ87 that this is his rock bottom! That he wakes up this morning and says I am not going to get kick out of practice again, and I will ball out!!!!!
I do think Head Coach Koetter will just hit the reset button ( no doghouse ). The statement has been made, and you will either practice right or you will not practice and play!!!!
The only question is if NFL GM Licht making a couple of calls to sell a discounted dunkaneer!!!!
June 10th, 2016 at 7:41 am
weak and worthless from the second we drafted him.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:44 am
Don’t kid yourselves fanboys. A QB has no sway with the HC or GM if a player spends more time on twitter than in the playbook.
Social media is the perfect bullhorn for an immature brat to expose an ego that;s bigger than his heart.
Koetter just verified that there’s a lot or nonsense going on behind the scenes at OBP.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:50 am
I think being on the bench for the majority of his 1st two years with that rookie paycheck and finally his attitude. It hurt him.
I expect to see ASJ gesticulating to an inflatable pool toy and completing his slide to career destruction.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:57 am
As much as I hate wasting a 2nd round pick on this total loser, I’m positive Licht has learned a big lesson on the importance of a player’s character over his physical traits.
Cut bait.
Go Bucs!
June 10th, 2016 at 8:02 am
Clearly a guy with some anger issues.
Hopefully he gets it together and has a good career (and life), but it’s probably not going to happen in Tampa.
It would be a really nice story to watch him turn it around, wouldn’t it? The odds are stacked against that happening though, aren’t they?
June 10th, 2016 at 8:12 am
A players heart has to be into it at the NFL level. And I’ve said all along ASj was suspect. He give you that prima Donna lackidasical feeling. Koetter is probably trying to light a fire under him. We will see how it all plays out. I know ASJ knows he has got to produce or go home this year. Lets see how he handles the pressure.
June 10th, 2016 at 8:31 am
Reminds me a lot of the Drouin situation. I would like to see the Bucs have the same stones to deal with a high ceiling guy, rather than dump him.
June 10th, 2016 at 8:38 am
That ‘Dunkaneers’ moniker was dumb when it was uttered by our loose-lips GM and looks even more foolish now considering one has pool cues for hands, one is the age of 8 emotionally and one is an aging vet that can’t stay on the field. Licht talks a bit too much for my liking. Done some good things as of late but has some real, real bad calls on his short Bucs resume.
Nothing is proven.
Stop annointing this guy.
June 10th, 2016 at 8:40 am
This is just really sad. To get lured into a worthless social media melee after getting thrown out of practice is just plain immature and uncalled for. If this is what we can expect from ASJ, it might be time to cut ties.
We need football players who are going to be accountable. The perception of “talent” can only take you so far.
June 10th, 2016 at 8:55 am
Lets not overreact and jettison another great player. ASJ, like GMC, has sustained injuries early on his career. If ASJ can come back like GMC keep him.
ASJ has to remember he is an elite millionaire athlete and to not lower himself to salty fans.
June 10th, 2016 at 9:03 am
I will stand by Licht. I look that the roster overall since he has become GM, and it’s much better than it was when Dominik was the GM.
The O-line is close to completely rebuilt. There’s now a franchise QB ready for the next decade +, and now the defense is being transformed. If Brate turns out well, he got us a starter at TE from a UDFA.
June 10th, 2016 at 9:05 am
@DPewter- In my opinion ASJ is the one who clearly overreacted and I don’t know if we’ve seen enough of him to lump him in the “great but injured” category. What I do know is that you can’t have grown men acting like petulant children at the first sign of trouble. And, you’re right, he need not engage dumb fans. Problem is, he did and did it with gusto. You’re not going to endear yourself to your fan-base that way.
June 10th, 2016 at 9:39 am
ASJ has missed so much time that he probably can’t remember how to put his helmet on much less how tho line-up. I applaud Koetter for calling him out and using him to set an example. As far as Twitter goes, I think kids are born with one strapped to their ass nowadays or as far from their brain as possible.
Problem is you have potentially one very talented 2nd round pick who could be a real asset to this team. i honestly think Koetter used him as a OTA example for all to see, nothing more. Koetter admitted that after practice. So for those of you ready to kick him off the team to go sign with a team like the Saints and come back and kick our ass, I understand. For those of you who would like to see what he does in pads next month, I understand. Fortunately we have plenty of options.
June 10th, 2016 at 9:45 am
GTFO
June 10th, 2016 at 10:06 am
ASJ could be what you see is what you get no matter what team takes him on. I really hope he stays with the Bucs and calms down some.
June 10th, 2016 at 10:32 am
Joe, I think it’s pretty cool how you can take all your tweets from last night and make an article out of them. Writing is not my forte’ so I admire that.
June 10th, 2016 at 11:35 am
Joe, Jameis and the Buccs are trying to create a “winning mindset”. ASJ has been a bad influence since arriving. I hope some of the vets on this team step and seriously get in the face of this kid. He better turn thibgs around quick, lay off the twitter and start playing studying/hard and showing respect or his career will be over soon. I hope this is an early wakeup call to the team that this mindset will not be tolerated.
June 10th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
DallasBuc: not sure what your issues are with Licht but they seem a bit unfounded. Say what you want about the 2014 draft but Evans has proved to be a very good talent, Sims is turning into a great weapon, and Pamphile is proving to be a jack of all trades on the line.
Yes, ASJ has been an ass clown thus far but his talent made him worth a shot and Cameron Brate has been a nice insurance policy. Not sure anyone is “anointing” Licht of anything but I do feel like he’s been a big upgrade over what we have had in the past.
June 10th, 2016 at 12:33 pm
I have to stick up for Jason Licht on the decision to draft ASJ, because as fans and the general public we don’t know what we don’t know.
Let’s remember Lovie Smith was in place by Jan. 1, 2014 and wasn’t hired until Jan. 24. That should immediately raise the question of who had control of the draft board early in the process of preparing for the May 8-10, 2014 NFL Draft? Let’s remember that publicly, at least, Bucs personnel decisions were represented as a “joint venture” between Licht and Smith, but did one or the other have veto authority?
Moreover, let’s keep in mind that much of the 2014 draft preparation process was conducted without the benefit of Licht’s current scouting department in place. That scouting department vetted Jameis Winston, Donovan Smith, Ali Marpat and Kwon Alexander. In addition, we have to ask the question how much was the Bucs’ 2014 draft board influenced by “Lovie’s basement” from which emanated our debacle of a 2014 free agency crop?
So, because we don’t know how much control Licht had over the draft board, whether he enjoyed veto power over Smith and he lacked a “his” scouting department that performed marvelously in 2015, we owe Licht a pass on ASJ, because we don’t know, and likely never will know, what we don’t know.
June 10th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Great post Rick
June 10th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
The guy makes it into the NFL realizes every1 is just as big as him.. gets hurt you think he would study the playbook all the time.. now he has a bad temper all the time.. Now hes the official LOSER of Tampa Bay right now…
June 10th, 2016 at 4:48 pm
If he is not blocking social media and feeds on distractions, then put him on the trading Block. No need to lose games due to focus issues.
June 11th, 2016 at 8:45 am
I don’t know why these guys have Twitter accounts to begin with. Very little ever comes out of it.