“He’s Not Going To Be Let Go”
June 13th, 2016
Tweety ASJ is safe, says Bucs a beat man.
Despite posing as Capt. Morgan, which cost his team, despite going all Bob Gibson with a football in St. Louis, which cost his team, despite prancing into the end zone like a preening schmoe in a blowout loss, despite getting tossed from an underwear football practice, despite jumping on Twitter and inviting fans to show up at One Buc Palace so he can beat them up and make them eat through a straw, despite making lewd comments about fans’ mothers/wives/girlfriends on social media, Tweety Austin Seferian-Jenkins’ spot on the Bucs’ roster is safe.
That’s the word from long-time Bucs beat man Woody Cummings. Appearing last week on the “Ron and J.P. Show,” heard on WDAE-AM 620, Cummings destroyed ASJ for his juvenile antics but said ASJ is currently safe from being cut.
“That’s not going to happen, not at this point” Cummings said of the possibility of ASJ being released or traded. “Let’s not forget, Dirk Koetter believes this guy can be a world class tight end. Problem is, he can also be a world class idiot.
“You can forgive the situation on the field. Something obviously happened to precipitate this situation where Dirk Koetter gets so frustrated he basically kicked him off the field. So something probably led up to that, whether he isn’t paying attention in the classroom or he’s not taking [classroom work] out onto the field. Something happened to prompt that whole situation. You can forgive a guy for screwing up [on the practice field]. That happens. … But you have a real hard time with this guy the way he responded on social media. It’s just ridiculous. He’s got to learn to control that temper and that anger and not lower himself. [ASJ] can’t take the bait.
“He is not portraying the image this team wants for its players. At some point, if the production level doesn’t come up and he doesn’t live up to expectations, that will get you kicked out in a hurry.”
What ASJ did last week on social media is totally unforgivable, barring a sincere apology, and not just some dog-and-pony-show reading from a prepared statement written by the Bucs and ordered to be read aloud by ASJ.
In a few hours, it will have been four days since ASJ suggested performing lurid acts on fans’ family members and threatening others.
As Cummings said, mistakes on the practice field, even underwear football, are understandable and acceptable (though Joe cannot find an example of any other NFL player getting run from an underwear football practice).
Going after fans the way ASJ did was way over the top and makes his teammates look bad, which is not right. ASJ’s social media actions also reinforced an ugly stereotype about professional athletes — rightly or wrongly.
Joe is not defending the jerks on Twitter. Several smelled blood in the water when they learned ASJ, somewhat of a piñata for Bucs fans to begin with, was kicked out of practice. ASJ shouldn’t sink to their level. That’s why the block button was invented.
To hear the full interview with Cummings, click the audio below, courtesy of WDAE-AM 620.
June 13th, 2016 at 6:57 am
I forget which article it was exactly but I remember some clever line about hoping ASJ learns how to block. Let’s hope he learns, or this guy is going to be washing windows at red lights.
June 13th, 2016 at 7:05 am
I guess his twitter account has been suspended, don’t know if that came from the top? This guy has talent, he has been compared to Gonzales by Koetter. I don’t think he will be cut. I think Koetter has just lit a huge fire under his ass. It is up to ASJ87 to either sink or swim!
June 13th, 2016 at 7:07 am
Ultimately Austin has to take responsibility for his actions but this is a two way street. A big part of the problem is that we as fans and social media junkies think that we know ASJ and we don’t. We don’t always know all the facts or details that lead into these situations and we immediately want to write players like him off as bad guys. We as fans have to take more responsibility as well and encourage the guy to do better unless he decides that he just doesn’t want to.
June 13th, 2016 at 7:20 am
Alan Bucs
Truer word have never been spoken on this blog Sir – Well Said.
June 13th, 2016 at 7:25 am
@alan
True we don’t know all the facts, but let’s pretend ASJ works your company and on his break is sitting outside the building. You walk up and heat him making these threats to customers. Exactly how long do you think it would take for him to be unemployed? Regardless of what is going on there some things you should know you just can’t do.
June 13th, 2016 at 7:30 am
kicking ASJ off the team would be a kneejerk reaction.was it dumb,yeah.
been there, done that. a lot of us have done dumb things when we were young.
June 13th, 2016 at 7:34 am
Well written Alan.
June 13th, 2016 at 7:38 am
@Destro44
I agree that ASJ must know that he has to be smarter when making decisions and that he is representing the team (company). I also know that issues like these at companies are often dealt with in house and supervisors and managers will have discussions with employees on there actions and necessary action to improve before they just immediately fire them. The reality is that he is very young and he just happens to be starting out with a very lucrative job.
June 13th, 2016 at 7:42 am
Well put Alan. We need to root for this guy Instead of trying to break him down. Because if your a REAL Bucs fan then that’s what you want at the end of the day, if this guy can pull it together he could make a world of a difference on offense.
June 13th, 2016 at 7:50 am
I thought I saw a puttie cat, said tweety bird in his battle cage.
June 13th, 2016 at 7:50 am
also think koetter can and will communicate with ASJ exactly what is expected of him.Licht has joked about being “Koetterized ” before.
June 13th, 2016 at 8:18 am
It would be best if ASJ either voluntarily or was forced to give up his Twitter account……the team via it’s contract may have that authority….but, just like a substance abuse problem…..he needs to stop using…because he has proven that he is out of control.
He happens to be one of the players that is very focused on what other people think of him and that can be good…or bad….in his case….bad. So, he needs to concentrate on those that matter….his coaches and teammates, not the public.
Hopefully an intervention from some of the players will occur. There are countless examples of immature players eventually maturing and becoming productive…..if there are no drugs involved, I think he has a chance of rehabilitation.
June 13th, 2016 at 8:29 am
Totally agree his Twitter behavior was stupid and childish…what he doesn’t seem to get is that it’s also dangerous. What will he do if some nutjob shows up after practice with a gun because he was talking smack on Twitter about his mom or girlfriend? Lots of crazies out there
June 13th, 2016 at 8:31 am
So when is local media going to solicite a response from the GM that drafted this sack of shhh?
June 13th, 2016 at 8:45 am
I wanted a “block button” during the “Jameis Watch” days.
I think we almost had one, but Barry stole it.
June 13th, 2016 at 8:50 am
@Buc1987
Whoever, stole the block button, must of used it on adrian slowborn career!!! Because he was obviously a “beast” until someone use it!!!!!!
June 13th, 2016 at 9:02 am
It’s still active. At least at 9:02 a.m. it was.
June 13th, 2016 at 9:04 am
Realist …it was the dreads!
June 13th, 2016 at 9:04 am
That’s a helluva point.
June 13th, 2016 at 9:17 am
Do we Brexit or Not, That is the question
June 13th, 2016 at 10:51 am
Pray that ASJ realized after Friday and Sunday morning’s tragedy’s in O-Town, that to some people those words typed can have a different outcome than intended.
Biggest thoughts to the extended Bucs family in Orlando. Give blood at a blood center near you, anywhere in the USA that you are. I have a 10 gallon total in my lifetime and soon as cleared to do so again post surgery will again.
June 13th, 2016 at 11:03 am
Young or not, talented or not, there’s a certain decorum that needs to be carried, not just by professional athletes but by all human beings. Whether he was egged on or not his behavior was simply unacceptable. That goes for those that spurred this on as well. How much different is it from Emily Austin’s faux paux? More importantly, how is he going to be viewed by fans now? I remember the love/hate relationship with Kellen Winslow Jr.; a talented jerk! Austin hasn’t even established himself in this league. How will that go over? The first time he drops a ball fans are going to go at him with gusto.
We may not know him, but I’m pretty sure everyone can recognize bad judgement. STOP TWEETING! Have we learned anything?!
June 13th, 2016 at 11:06 am
If ASJ pays a visit to the University of Seffner campus, he’ll have to ride the Short Bus.
June 13th, 2016 at 11:21 am
There are clauses in an NFL contract referring to behavior forbidding “Conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL players.”
I suspect Mr. S-J is about to become intimately familiar with that clause, seeing how he actually threatened some shleb on social media. I suspect he will be paying expensive “tuition.*”
I’m surprised someone, including Joe, hasn’t brought this up.
(Back in The Day, if you screwed up you got a note from the Head Coach to “make payment to The Sunshine Club.”)
June 13th, 2016 at 11:33 am
Nice research Cobra! You’re probably right about the “tuition”. He’s gonna pay!
June 13th, 2016 at 11:36 am
Oh, Joe fully expects ASJ to be fined. Leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman got rung up for thousands of dollars for doing less.
June 13th, 2016 at 12:35 pm
I wonder what kind of relationship he has with his folks. You’d think they’d be on the phone pronto to “help” him see things clearer. Some need that guidance longer than others. Never want to Mom and Dad be “disappointed” in you. That stings.
June 13th, 2016 at 12:37 pm
You give me grief on Twitter and I clap back telling you about your mom, and you gonna show up uninvited with a gun! Then I say come on down the price is right!! Level-up ASJ, we need you to be the next John Mackey, it’s up to you brother!!
June 13th, 2016 at 4:14 pm
“What ASJ did last week on social media is totally unforgivable,”
A bit of a stretch sir.
June 13th, 2016 at 4:44 pm
This ma be a little “off topic” – but then again it confirms my theory on ASJ. When the BUCS drafted Jameis over Mariota, I admit I was disappointed. I still think Mariota will end up in the Drew Brees category of QBs. But I have to admit, Jameis has won me over – with his character, work habits, and his ability. I now think that Jameis has a chance to go down as the greatest QB ever. Now, back to ASJ. I have been willing to cut him some slack. For two reasons:
#1 After all, Lovie did throw him under the bus last year as far as public opinion. There is no telling what affect that had on ASJ. He had to be extremely frustrated and pissed off (maybe even at the world). – Especially if he is a dedicated and ambitious person.
#2: He is a very young man (player) – isn’t he ? Now, I know that Jqameis is also very young too. But not everyone has the composure and personality of Jameis.Therefore, I am still willing to cut ASJ some slack (very, very little- even after his latest practice and Twitter episodes.
I just hope he realizes his predicament -NOW – and cleans up his act -now. My biggest fear in this situation is that, because of his potential, he will end up bouncing around the league for a few years until he matures and turns into the very special player he can be. But, then again, maybe its drugs and he will just go down as another sad story of wasted potential.
#2:
June 13th, 2016 at 7:36 pm
Good talented pass catchers is a weak spot on this team. I’d like to see him work out.