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Austin Seferian-Jenkins signs one-year deal with Patriots

By Patrick Morgan

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 15: Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins #88 of the New York Jets runs the ball for what was originally called a touchdown against strong safety Duron Harmon #30 of the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter of their game at MetLife Stadium on October 15, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was reversed and called a fumble. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 15: Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins #88 of the New York Jets runs the ball for what was originally called a touchdown against strong safety Duron Harmon #30 of the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter of their game at MetLife Stadium on October 15, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was reversed and called a fumble. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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Free agent tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins has agreed in principle to a one-year deal to play with the New England Patriots.

The New England Patriots are finally starting to make adjustments in the post-Gronk world they now find themselves inhabiting.

On Wednesday, they agreed to a one-year deal with veteran free agent tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. The news was first reported by Seferian-Jenkins himself on his social media accounts.

While astute followers of the NFL will no doubt observe that Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a far cry from Rob Gronkowski in terms of overall ability as well as body of work over their respective professional football careers, there are at least a few encouraging parallels between the two players.

Seferian-Jenkins, at 6’5, is just an inch shorter than Gronkowski. He’s only six pounds lighter at 262 lb, and his body and wingspan are eerily similar to Gronk’s. Both players were selected in the second round of the NFL Draft, and right around the same spot: Gronkowski went No. 42 overall in 2010, and Seferian-Jenkins went No. 38 overall four years later in 2014.

But while Gronk played his entire nine-year career with the team that drafted him, “ASJ” has bounced around throughout his six-year NFL career. He played just 16 games across his first two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, racking up 42 total catches for 559 yards and six touchdowns during that time.

In 2016, he had three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown in the first two games of the season before getting arrested and charged with a DUI. He was released immediately by the Bucs and claimed off waivers by the New York Jets two days later.

Patriots fans may remember Seferian-Jenkins for his controversial touchdown reversal against New England back in Week 6 of the 2017 season. Still with the Jets at the time, the tight end appeared to break the plane of the end zone en route to scoring for Gang Green, but ultimately the call was reversed and deemed a touchback, as the referees concluded he fumbled the ball out of bounds in the end zone.

Seferian-Jenkins also briefly played for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, but made it through just five games before landing on injured reserve.

dark. Next. Stephen Gostkowski re-signs with the Patriots

In addition to his injury struggles, Seferian-Jenkins has also had problems with alcohol addiction and substance abuse. New England is hoping that he can overcome all these obstacles and begin living up to the high potential he was regarded with coming out of college as a second-round draft pick from the University of Washington.

If anyone can help Seferian-Jenkins finally tap into that potential, it’s Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, and Tom Brady. Hopefully this move pays dividends for both parties involved – the Patriots as a team and Austin Seferian-Jenkins as a player.

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