Bucs release TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins after second DUI arrest
TheTampa Bay Buccaneershave waivedAustin Seferian-Jenkinsafter the tight end was arrested earlier Friday morning on a DUI charge in Tampa, Florida.
Seferian-Jenkins, 23, was arrested and charged with a DUI early Friday morning in Tampa. He posted $750 cash bail and was released at 12:13 p.m., shortly after the team's walk-through ended. He then issued a post on Twitter.
The Bucs play their home opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol arrest report, Seferian-Jenkins was pulled over at 3:42 a.m. for driving erratically and speeding. He was going 75-80 mph in a 55 mph zone. He was arrested and charged with a DUI and violation of an Ignition Interlock Device restriction from a 2013 DUI arrest in Washington.
He refused a breathalyzer test once at the Hillsborough County Jail.
"We are very disappointed in today's news," general manager Jason Licht said in a statement. "After careful consideration, we felt this was the right decision at this time."
Seferian-Jenkins saw action in 16 games -- 12 starts -- for the Bucs, and he caught 21 passes for 338 yards and four touchdowns last season. As a rookie in 2014, the second-round pick had 221 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
He had two catches for 14 yards Sunday against the Cardinals.
The 6-5, 262-pound Seferian-Jenkins, along with Mike EvansandVincent Jackson, had Licht touting his receiving corps as the "Dunkaneers."
The GM's vision never came to fruition though, as Seferian-Jenkins' on-field availability was hampered by injuries and poor decisions.
He was kicked out of the final day of OTA practice because coach Dirk Koetter said he wasn't prepared.
Said Seferian-Jenkins at the time: "It was the best thing that could have happened to me."
According to the NFL Policy and Program on Substances of Abuse, unless there are aggravating circumstances, first-time offenses involving alcohol-related arrests are subjected to suspension without pay for two regular-season or postseason games. If there is property damage involved, serious injury or death or the player had prior drug or alcohol-related misconduct, he could be subjected to harsher discipline.
If a team does claim him on waivers, he would have to serve his punishment with that team.
The team's starting tight end last week, Luke Stocker, has not practiced this week because of an ankle injury. That could leave Cameron Brate, Brandon Myersand Alan Cross, who was called up from the practice squad, as the available tight ends on the 53-man roster.
Brate stayed late after practice Friday to catch passes fromquarterbackJameis Winston.
