The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins on Friday after he was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Tampa, Fla.
The news was reported by several outlets, and Seferian-Jenkins thanked the team’s fans on Twitter, saying he is ready for “the next chapter.”
“We are very disappointed in today’s news,” Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht said. “After careful consideration, we felt this was the right decision at this time.”
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Seferian-Jenkins was stopped for entering I-275 south near State Road 60 and traveling 75-80 mph in a 55-mph zone early Friday morning. He made an improper lane change, cutting off a state trooper traveling in his patrol vehicle, and was weaving back and forth, the FHP said in a release.
Seferian-Jenkins refused a breath test at the Hillsborough County Jail.
Seferian-Jenkins was charged with DUI and violation of an Ignition Interlock Device restriction from a previous arrest in the state of Washington in 2013.
Seferian-Jenkins (6-5, 260), who will turn 24 on Thursday, was taken by the Bucs in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played collegiately at Washington. He has 45 career receptions for 603 yards and seven touchdowns. He made three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown this season.
The Bucs (1-1) will host the Los Angeles Rams (1-1) in their home opener Sunday.
Vikings place Peterson on DL
The Vikings placed Adrian Peterson on injured reserve Friday.
Peterson underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. It’s still possible Peterson returns this season as each NFL team is allowed to reinstate one player from injured reserve after eight weeks.
The earliest the Vikings could bring back Peterson onto the active roster is Week 11 in the middle of November, however he’s expected to be sidelined longer after choosing to have his meniscus tear fully repaired. Teams no longer need to designate which player they’d like to return from injured reserve.
Through two games, Peterson gained 50 yards on 31 carries before injuring his knee against Green Bay.
Peterson, 31, is under contract through next season, though it’s an option year with a cap hit of $18 million.
After the move, the Vikings sit with one open roster spot.
Former Chiefs safety looking for lost Super Bowl ring
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Chiefs safety Jim Kearney proudly wore his Super Bowl IV ring for 46 years. Now, it’s missing, and he needs help finding it.
Kearney is offering a reward for the ring that was lost on Thursday as he was washing his car at a car wash at 60th and Troost.
“I got back home and something didn’t feel right,” Kearney said. “I looked and it was gone. I looked in the car and everywhere around it. I retraced my steps but I can’t find it.
“I hope somebody will be a good citizen and return it. It means so much to me.”
Kearney played 115 of his 142 NFL/AFL games with the Chiefs during 1967-75 and holds the franchise record for interceptions returned for a touchdown in a season with four. He was the starting strong safety on the team that defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV on Jan. 11, 1970.
