TMZ reports that free agent tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins was recently arrested and charged with DUI, driving on a suspended license, and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device (a requirement imposed by the court following a prior DUI).
Per the report, ASJ was traveling nearly 20 MPH over the speed limit in the early morning hours of March 9, and he nearly turned onto a wrong way off-ramp before cutting across multiple lanes of traffic. The arresting officer noted that Seferian-Jenkins smelled of alcohol and marijuana and had bloodshot eyes.
This is a sad development for ASJ, 27, who was charged with DUI while in college in 2013 and while in the pros in 2016. He has been candid about his alcohol issues, and he indicated after his release from the Patriots last summer that he was going to step away from football for a time to tend to his personal affairs, but he has not been able to conquer his demons.
The Buccaneers selected him in the second round of the 2014 draft, but he failed to live up to his potential in Tampa and was waived after his 2016 DUI. The Jets took a chance on him by claiming him off waivers, and they were rewarded in 2017, as Seferian-Jenkins posted 50 grabs for 357 yards and three scores in 13 games.
He parlayed that performance into a two-year, $10MM contract with with the Jaguars, but he was placed on IR in October 2018 and Jacksonville declined to pick up his option for 2019, making him a free agent. He was signed by the Patriots last April and had a prime opportunity to help fill the massive hole left by Rob Gronkowski, but he was unable to take advantage of it.
If he ever planned to return to the league, this latest incident will not help matters, but irrespective of his playing career, hopefully he can start to put his substance abuse issues behind him.
Another guy wasting his talent
And his life.
Dumb comments. He’s no different than the guy working in the factory with an alcohol issue. Nobody accuses him of wasting his talent. Alcohol is an awful drug that affects all walks of life.
Because the guy in the factory doesn’t have elite athletic talent
ASJ does…hence wasting his talent.
“Wasting” implies intent. Any form of addiction goes well past that.
who cares who the alcoholic is. this guy owes the public nothing. he’s not bound in service to us simply because he can play football. its no less a waste of a life if its someone who cant at all play sports.
Very well said DarkSide830
Silly goose. He just needs some radishes.
Is he still news? Lol
He was so coddled in HS. Could never do anything wrong and excuses were made for everything. It is too bad because he has talent. Was under used at UW but still put up decent numbers. Too many athletes get away with a lot in HS and it never clicks they have to grow up.
Enough. Good thing he didn’t take someone out. Perfect example of a spoiled and pampered modern athlete.
Jim Leyritz, Donte Stallworth
Lol
Scumbag. Throw him in prison.
You’re so hateful and spiteful!
Maybe AB CAN DRIVE HIM AROUND!
When I first saw the article I jumped to comments section to see the comments. I just wanted to see how bad you guys were burying this sick addicted man
you know, DUI is one of the most underrated crimes in mt opinion as far as the damage it can cause to innocent people and its frequency. but everyone immediately turns these articles into an excuse to question the character of these guys like they know more about their lives than the people themselves.
So, I agree with both sides of this. I’ve had people close to me with addiction and realize it is an illness and it’s one very difficult one to battle. I feel bad for anyone going through it.
However, partaking in your addiction and then getting behind the wheel and potentially hurting others is not okay either, and deserves reprimand. We just know way too much about intoxicated driving, be it from drugs or alcohol, for people to still be doing it.
Ok, excuse his track record all you want because he has a “disease “…stay home and get slobbered every night all you want, but don’t get into a vehicle and speed in your self guided missile taking out some poor innocent victims. Always seems like the drunk walks away, while the people in the wrong place at the wrong time don’t.