Dirk Koetter says there’s more to Austin Seferian-Jenkins’ release

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut Austin Seferian-Jenkins after a DUI arrest yesterday. That’s a fairly drastic move, but it was also the result of longer-standing issues. Or at least, that’s what head coach Dirk Koetter implied when talking to Alex Marvez of Sirius XM.

“It is disappointing. Austin’s a guy that we had high hopes for, was a second-round pick here a couple years back, fought through some injury issues, very talented individual.

“There’s more to every story than meets the eye, sometimes there’s more to it than I can say on the radio.”

Seferian-Jenkins had been kicked out of practice during the offseason, though he seemed to bounce back after that. He never really regained his starting spot, though, and his playing time and targets were limited in the first two weeks, despite the fact that he is clearly the most talented tight end on the Bucs’ roster.

Koetter also said something about this move being about putting the best players on the field on Sunday. Someone has to explain to me how cutting a more talented player for a far less talented player is going to accomplish that, exactly. It’s okay to admit you cut him because of the arrest, or because he wasn’t consistent, coach. You don’t have to spin it.