ASJ In Dangerous Territory
June 12th, 2016
Clinging to a job?
Before Joe gets rolling here, Joe wants to be fair.
Entering the 2016 offseason, reasonable people looked at Bucs tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins with a raised eyebrow.
The talented prospect 2014 second-round pick from the University of Washington missed half of Bucs games with various ailments, including back, ankle and shoulder injuries.
ASJ could have and maybe should have been put on the injured reserve list last year, but Joe can understand why he wasn’t. Until late in the season, the Bucs had a shot at the playoffs. The Bucs were hoping upon hope ASJ would be ready a wild card game came through.
Lovie Smith threw ASJ under the bus of public opinion. Virtually every week, Lovie claimed ASJ was fully available for contact in practice when, in fact, there was no contact in practice and team doctors would not clear him for contact.
Lovie made ASJ look yellow. Instead of playing mind games with the press — which is playing mind games with the fans — Lovie should have been up front and honest. But no, he had to play high school football coach and act like ASJ’s health was the team’s version of the Manhattan Project.
On the field, ASJ has made a name for himself by being a total knucklehead. This continued last week when ASJ was run from an underwear football practice, then quickly picked fights on Twitter, including with a guy claiming to be a local firefighter.
During the winter, Joe was told at different times by folks he trusts with the Bucs that ASJ was the No. 3 or No. 2 tight end entering this offseason. Last season’s snap counts after ASJ returned healthy, made that clear, regardless.
Woody Cummings of SportsTalkFlorida.com wrote a column last week on ASJ’s job security slip-sliding away.
Now he’s been kicked out of practice. During the offseason. Given that, it’s probably safe to say that whatever kind of a grasp Seferian-Jenkins had on a starter’s job before Thursday, it’s weaker now.
ASJ may not even be on the roster come September. Clearly there is something (or somethings) going on behind the scenes that led Koetter to launching a player in underwear football. That is unheard of.
Given what Joe heard this past winter, Joe’s of the mind the only reason why ASJ remains on the roster is the Bucs are holding on to him just in case Cameron Brate and/or Luke Stocker get hurt.
ASJ’s roster spot come September, especially after last week’s nonsense where he invited fans to come to One Buc Palace so he could beat them up, is anything but a sure thing.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:07 am
He WANTS to be kicked off the team intentionally.
No other reason for his Twitter antics.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:11 am
What’s next? Knife in the thigh? Just shut up and play.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:18 am
Well, That is coach my scheme for you isn’t it!!! Classic how it was never his fault for anything!!! Blaming players check, throwing them under the bus check!!! Way to coach them all week, then after the losses (and there were many) He complained that they were not making plays!!! And the players that did question why they were not in position to make plays found themselves benched ( Banks??)
I have warning, The stories of the Incompetent one are only going to increase!! Training camp and preseason is when most of the stories will start to come out, because that is when the media national and local get the most access!! So strap on your helmets Sheep, lovie loyalist and Tampa2 mafia!!! because the bashing of the Incompetent one has not even started yet!!!!
ASJ87 is in trouble, One has to wonder how many times has he “not known what to do”!!! what his work habits are inside the building!!! Will he the example of “He was talented but we need an all in attitude”???? I would thought he might get just one more chance, but I am also watching for other teams that suffer a TE injury or are desperate for a trade!!!!!!
June 12th, 2016 at 8:36 am
Coach, do not divide your team before training camp. Rookie coaches,have to prove they are in charge. Embarrassing a player is not the way to prove you are in charge. Coach, deal with a player in the locker room, any player would be upset. I have been in locker rooms and have seen how this effect players. Coach, Smith would never do that on the defense side of the ball, because, he is a experience head coach.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:37 am
If this guy wasn’t so dam talented he would of been gone already. But he has the potential to be one of the best TE’s in the league if he can pull his head out of his @$$. When ASJ was drafted they asked the great Tony Gonzales who he thinks is the next big thing…and he said ASJ. Not gronk. ASJ! Because he’s of the rare skills he has. The combination of size, speed, and athleticism. And he can block as well. He’s just gotta pull it together between the ears. Wich from the looks of it doesn’t look to promising. He’s acting like a 12 year old. Grow the f*ck up bro! And focus on your job! Not scrubs on twitter that have nothing else to do but criticize ppl they don’t know, or have never met. I’m rooting for ASJ to pull it together because this offense could become e scary if he could reach his potential. He’s the perfect safety blanket for Jameis as well. I would hate to see this guy go to another team (like the saints or falcons) and ball out every year, and be rubbing in our faces basically. And we would have to add him to the list of former bucs that went on to be succesful else where. We have enough of those already.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:38 am
Trade him for a 3rd round pick before the cancer speads in the locker room.at least get something for a bust 2nd round pick.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:39 am
It is highly unlikely they will cut ASJ……no matter how bad JBF think he is. He is young with great talent & upside and two years left on his rookie contract……he can be traded for at least a 5th rounder to a team that needs a TE and has a coach with an ego that thinks all ASJ needs is his coaching to make him a superstar.
They will simply make ASJ the 3rd or even 4th string TE if they need to.
ASJ can’t control where he goes….if cut, he would simply likely be picked up by the first team with waiver priority.
Ask yourself this question…..if you were that team (TENN) would you snap him up?…….I think so.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:44 am
You ever work with a guy that when things are delegated to him, he always says, “Why do I have to do it?” He reminds me of that guy.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:48 am
Coach’em Up – No reason to release a talented prospect.
Especially on a team with a lack of recieving talent.
Has the kid commiteed some type of crime? No
Ya’ll act this kid is the next Johnny Manziel –geesh
June 12th, 2016 at 8:56 am
Remember Bengal Fans were pissed w/ Tyler Eifert the 1st two seasons.
They called Him a Bust, Weak, Brittle –everything but a Child of God.
But after the 2015 Pro Bowl Birth. They love his dirty drawls.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:59 am
This would have been a non-issue or story if Tweety hadn’t immediately jumped on twitter after the incident happened. I see no problem with him getting kicked out of practice I’m sure he’s not the first and wont’ be the last player to get kicked out of a practice but jumping on twitter and bringing attention to the incident is where he showed his immaturity and lack of professionalism.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:59 am
Why give him what he wants by releasing him? If he keeps it up, place him on IR.
June 12th, 2016 at 9:01 am
C’mon #87…we need you bro! Pay no attention to the doubters. Search your feelings, see that it be true…Don’t let YOURSELF down, you wanted to be a monster when u came in the league. Well, wake the kraken…ON the FIELD
#BUCUTALKINBOUT
YO JOE!
GO BUCS!!!
June 12th, 2016 at 9:08 am
I love it Buc Realist! When things went bad for Licht it was all Dominik, now when things go wrong for Licht you are blaming Lovie. Wake up son. This team yes has Winston but honestly over the past three off-season it feels worse to me in terms of talent. Ready for the pre-season to get here and be done and find out how good we really are
June 12th, 2016 at 9:08 am
Hes only 22 years old I believe, he still has time to mature excepr its taking him longer than other rookies. Have to trade him, can’t just give up on him like that.
June 12th, 2016 at 9:11 am
He isn’t learning the offense, can’t stay healthy, and when he is on the field he makes little impact beyond dumb penalties. Jeremy Stevens 2.0.
June 12th, 2016 at 9:13 am
I’m going to go along with Coach K and believe this thing has gotten out of control, give ASJ his punishment, let him know what’s expected of him, give the guy a chance to prove his worth…..cutting ties with him is too easy to do, so working out this latest rant is all on him. No one with a full-sized brain would try to pin this on LOVIE. LOVIE gone and LOVIE got a job (in the corn fields), ASJ step up, man up, and get your stuff together!!
I’m
June 12th, 2016 at 9:28 am
No better place for a talented tight end to be than in Koetter’s offense.Appears ASJ spends too much time on Twitter and not enough on time on playbook.In any case Koetter and ASJ need to have a sitdown.Only thing clear is Koetter
expected more from his third year TE and didn’t feel he was getting it.Since we haven’t seen much ASJ on the field it really difficult to separate potential from ability.No better time for ASJ to prove that he is what they thought nhe was.He is giving the bucs the wrong signals through his twitter rants and challenges.
June 12th, 2016 at 9:34 am
The question some of you need to be asking, Is how many “sitdowns” in coach’s office already!!! Here is a clue, its been more than 1 already!!! And after ASJ87 10 twitter flame war, he now gets to sit down in the GM’s office. The least he is walking out with is a big ole fine!!!
June 12th, 2016 at 9:48 am
Tase ASJ lightly, it may alter his brain wiring positively. If not go to medium. Free outside the box spirited thinking not allowed.
June 12th, 2016 at 9:55 am
U over judgmental types are Lucky as hell – Sapp wasn’t on twitter at 22.
He’s a freakin’ Kid – Doing a Bunch of Immature BS.
Coach’em Up & Move On
June 12th, 2016 at 9:58 am
Buccfan37
Lol – Nothing wrong w/ a little ECT
June 12th, 2016 at 10:00 am
ASJ87 turns 24 in 3 months, for the few that actually care about the truth and facts around here!!!
June 12th, 2016 at 10:02 am
Trust Jameis to,get this guy right, we will be glad we kept him, anyone remember Mike Singletary calling out Vernon Davis, what did he say afterwards, probably one of the best things to ever happen to him.
June 12th, 2016 at 10:02 am
22 or 24 No Matter still a young pup
June 12th, 2016 at 10:15 am
His Back, ankle and shoulder was hurt previously. Now his PU$$Y hurts.
June 12th, 2016 at 10:17 am
All I know is the kid’s a solid prospect. With plenty of upside
Comparing his numbers to another kid that drafted in the 1st round of the same draft (2014).
Eric Ebron vs Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Career Numbers
TE Eric Ebron
*1st round (10th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.
• Games Started: 15
• Receptions: 72
• Yards: 785
• Average: 10.9
• TD’s: 6
Vs.
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins
*2nd round (38th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.
• Games Started: 12
• Receptions: 42
• Yards: 559
• Average: 13.3
• TD’s: 6
June 12th, 2016 at 10:57 am
I’d sure like to see ASJ succeed, but I’m really starting to have doubts.
June 12th, 2016 at 11:18 am
Keep him around till his contract expires.
June 12th, 2016 at 11:32 am
The Realist should know, he lives under Coach K’s desk! SMDH!
June 12th, 2016 at 11:38 am
Vitale,nuff said.Tampaaaaaaa
June 12th, 2016 at 12:24 pm
The media is blowing it out of proportion, and that could leader to his release.
Really, the getting booted off the practice field was no big deal. The media jumped on it like vultures, because they need SOMETHING to say. A little adversity goes a long way for the media.
ASJ getting on twitter was stupidity. He probably heard sports radio slamming him on his way home, and then was attacked on twitter. He got defensive and lost all common sense.
I blame the media as much as I blame him.
Again, I’m not saying ASJ is blameless, but the media are a bunch of vultures who could care less about these players so long as they can report controversy and cause it to grow. Getting him to lose his cool just adds more to their fire.
June 12th, 2016 at 12:26 pm
I’ll say this too…when hearing the media talk bad about someone, whether it is truth or not, people start to believe it over time. Already, believers in ASJ are changing their tunes. As an example, I offer this:
Fred McNeil Says: “I’d sure like to see ASJ succeed, but I’m really starting to have doubts.”
Not meaning to single Fred out. He is one of many.
June 12th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
The Buc Realist Says:
“…for the few that actually care about the truth and facts around here!!!”
Now THAT is funny coming from you…!
June 12th, 2016 at 12:31 pm
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!
Joe is stealing that!
Well done, Waterboy! Well done,!
June 12th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Bonzai:
Feel free to point out where Joe is lying about ASJ.
June 12th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
You know I’ve seen Donovan smith lots of periscopes and he hangs with a bunch of the team not once have I seen ASJ paint balling or just listening to music dancing in the locker room like dougie Jameis kwon a bunch of players but never asj
June 12th, 2016 at 12:45 pm
There goes bucbonzai again, reading headlines and coming to the wrong conclusion!!! The sad part is that you agree with me on somethings, it just takes you a year to get there!!! ( kinda like coach my scheme’s adjustments)
Here is another thing bucbonzai, blame the media, but it was because ASJ87 was tweeting stange tweets in the locker room that got them asking what happened to ASJ87!!
Start reading the stories twice if you need to bonzai please!!!!! and ask any questions you do not understand!!!!
June 12th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
147:
Ding! Last year, saw a photo of ASJ with Jameis at a Lightning playoff game. Haven’t seen or heard of him out and about with teammates since.
June 12th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Joe
I you’re not lying and not sure that’s Bonzai’s point but you and Justin P. have certainly taken shots at ASJ over the past 3 days. I’ll have to agree that it seems like grown men are kicking a young man when he’s down.
Not sure how that benefits anyone. Please don’t block me now. 🙏🏽
June 12th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
ASJ has done nothing..
The NFL unemployment line if full of guys with talent..But in the NFL you have to have Drive…
ASJ has none…
Play or hit the road…I would rather have a Brate who is hungry and 100% all the time….Over this Bum
June 12th, 2016 at 2:34 pm
“Shots?” You mean like a professional (in name only) is asking fans (including a firefighter) to come to One Buc Palace to fight should be ignored? Like a guy suggesting lewd things with people’s mother and girlfriend/wife is acceptable behavior? Like getting thrown out of an underwear practice by the head coach should be ignored?
Please! Joe has even defended ASJ the way Lovie hung him out to dry. “Shots?” Get real!
This guy is entering his third year in the NFL and he’s acting like a high school sophomore. He hasn’t grown up one bit since he was drafted. In fact, he is getting worse.
Why do you think the Bucs had a guy drafted this high with this kind of talent making millions listed as a backup entering the offseason?
Do the math.
June 12th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
If asj doesn’t produce this is all on licht. You can’t bust on high 2nd Ed picks. This guy was known as an immature risky guy. So, without him that 14 draft looks shaky. A backup il guy, a decent rb, and me would be all we got. Anybod can pick at #7 and get a starter that’s no credit to gm. Me obvious choice to everybody. But if asj busts that draft was average at best. Koetter and licht have to have winning season by end of year 2 or gone. Definitely licht that would 4 straight losing seasons.
June 12th, 2016 at 5:12 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai
I agree with your point on the media having the ability to sway people’s opinion/perception but my question is which came first Tweety jumping on Twitter to vent his frustration or the media reporting on him getting thrown out of practice? I was getting sent Twitter screenshots of his “moving on” message before I read anything about him getting thrown out of practice. We were initially thinking he was about to be traded.
June 12th, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Is ASJ everything we hoped? Not yet and perhaps not at all. Has he shown flashes of being a world class dumb-@ss? Yes. Whether or not he reaches his potential is totally up to him. The offense is TE friendly. The QB a developing stud. Two solid RBs. Two WRs who can and do draw coverage and and OL that is serviceable. Is he tough enough between the ears and physically to live in the seams and be a weapon? I think so, but What really needs to happen here is player led leadership to ensure ASJ is as focused and accountable as he needs to be to help the team. Before Jameis and Kwon, I’m not sure we had those kinds of leaders/players here. Those two are still young and learning too. But is Jameis post Carolina game presser is any indication, the loser mentality will not be tolerated. Hardy and later Sapp set and enforced a standard of practice and play that eventually took root. This team is on the cusp. On paper the roster is as talented as the 97 squad. But clear expectations need to be set and enforced in the locker room. Once that’s in place antics like ASJs won’t have a place here. He’ll either get with the program or face locker room justice.
June 12th, 2016 at 5:42 pm
Guys relax he is a kid doing dumb stuff. He needs to grow up some, getting run into the ground by the coaches and then built back up again, then converted into a WR to replace VJax. Maybe being a WR will eliminate his injuries and some coaching and being taught a lesson will turn him around. If he can’t be turned around then just trade him and move on.
June 12th, 2016 at 8:31 pm
I heard that ASJ got kicked out of the Casino the same day or the day after he got kicked out of practice!!!
June 13th, 2016 at 12:02 am
I hope koetter and Winston can sit down with ASJ and help him get his head on straight. I hope ASJ can redeem himself and prove to be a better man than he has shown us. Im still cheering for you ASJ. I hope you find your inner peace and get your career back on track with the Bucs.