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This really doesn’t mean much right now. It’s great to have a positive attitude, but the proof is in the puddling as they say.
There was a story on the Jets’ website that is getting linked to all over the internet.
Headline – “ASJ: ‘Taking a Chance on Me Is Going to Pay Off”
This of course is referring to tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
The Jets claimed Seferian-Jenkins off waivers on September 26, 2016 after he was released by Tampa Bay. He was released by the Buccaneers after he was arrested for a DUI.
Seferian-Jenkins didn’t have much of an impact on the Jets last year. First off, he had to play catch-up learning the offense as in-season additions. Also, it’s well-documented Chan Gailey doesn’t dial up a lot of pass plays for the tight end. He was also out of shape.
This off-season, Seferian-Jenkins lost 30 pounds, got in great shape, and claims to have stopped drinking.
He looked very good in the Jets’ off-season practices.
“I feel like a different person on and off the field,” Seferian-Jenkins told the team’s website. “The weight loss has been tremendous and I’m just really happy I have the opportunity to show the Jets taking a chance on me is going to pay off.”
I have no idea whether the Jets taking a chance on him is going to pay off.
I’m done hyping reclamation projects and how they are a new people, only to unfortunately get burned down the road.
Where is Erin Henderson now?
On a human level I hope he’s doing well, but I wrote about Henderson turning his life around after unfortunately have to deal with drug and alcohol problems. On October 22, 2016, Henderson was placed on the Reserve/Non Football Illness list.
I’ve covered Josh Evans, Carlton Haselrig and Quincy Carter. All reclamation project that fell off the wagon.
Look, I’m not making light of substance issues. It’s a very, very serious matters. It’s a disease. I know people affected by this and so do many of you. It’s tragic.
Seferian-Jenkins DUI last year was the second of his life. In July of 2013, at the University of Washington, he pleaded guilty to DUI and served a day in jail.
It pains me to say this because I don’t root against people, but I’m just not going to write about this for this website and magazine. I’m not going to write about how he’s turned it around.
Hopefully for him he has.
And if he truly has, and he continues to perform that way he did this spring in real football games, he should help the Jets a great deal. This guy is a rare talent.
Remember also, another reason he was booted by Tampa Bay was he was sent home from an off-season practice because Coach Dirk Koetter said “he didn’t know what he was doing.”
How often does that ever happen?
Look, I have no idea if his problems are in the past.
We will see.
The proof will be in the pudding.
July 7, 2017
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