ASJ helping Donahue out with alcoholism

[Patriot Killa]

Austin Seferian-Jenkins is helping a former Jets teammate battle alcoholism

Last offseason, Austin Seferian-Jenkins turned both his life and his NFL career around by getting sober. A second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014, Seferian-Jenkins struggled during the first three years of his career on the field (45 catches for 603 yards and seven touchdowns) and with alcoholism. Seferian-Jenkins was cited for one DUI in college and another in the NFL, the second of which resulted in his being released by the Bucs. He later caught on with the Jets -- before signing with the Jaguars this offseason -- and, last summer, opened up about seeking help to overcome his alcohol addiction. 

Now, he's paying it forward. According to the New York Daily News, Seferian-Jenkins is helping former teammate Dylan Donahue, a fifth-round pick of the Jets in 2017, overcome the same issues. Donahue was arrested in February after driving the wrong way in the Lincoln Tunnel and injuring four people when he collided with a bus. The arrest was his second DUI inside of a year. 

After Seferian-Jenkins heard about it, he called Donahue and offered to help. 

"It was a natural thing," Seferian-Jenkins told the Daily News. "I think the world of Dylan and the way he plays the game and the type of character he has. People make mistakes. It happens as you grow up. You can't cross them off because they made a couple mistakes. I've definitely had my fair share of incidents. Everyone has a different story, but we're all searching for the same thing: Peace and clarity. I think that's what he's doing. He's really attacked it hard."

Donahue, for his part, said Seferian-Jenkins has been a big help, particularly while Donahue spent 30 days in a treatment center. "We were connected," Donahue said. "He had nothing but good things to say and helpful things to say. He actually helped a lot. Seeing someone else do it, especially someone on the same team as you, that definitely built my confidence."

For Seferian-Jenkins, the important part of being able to help Donahue is that he's fond of his former teammate as a person, not just a player. 

"Forget about the football stuff," Seferian-Jenkins said. "He's just a really good person. You would hate to see such a good person go down a road that I've been down and begin to tumble. Some people never get back on that positive road. And then it's a sad story. But I believe in Dylan. I know that he can do those things. That's what I told him: I really do believe in you. All that other football stuff will come if you progress as a man."

Seferian-Jenkins was one of the best stories of last season as he turned his life around off the field and finally made progress on it (50 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns), and it's nice to see that he now has the motivation to help other players overcome the same demons that plagued him early on. 

[T0mShane]

That’s wonderful of ASJ and I hope Donahue gets it figured out and god bless and all that sh*t, but it’s trash that he still has a roster spot and it’s endemic of the Todd Bowles regime to be incredibly weak with discipline and it’s why every good player checks out on him. 

[RutgersJetFan]

16 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

That’s wonderful of ASJ and I hope Donahue gets it figured out and god bless and all that sh*t, but it’s trash that he still has a roster spot and it’s endemic of the Todd Bowles regime to be incredibly weak with discipline and it’s why every good player checks out on him. 

This your monthly reminder that we discuss and applaud sh*t like this while the NFL suspends people for weed at a clip.

[varjet]

I think Chris Johnson is a limousine liberal who as a general matter will tolerate more than others.

If they can manage difficult characters and keep them on the team, it can make the team better and endear the Jets to players.

Have the Jets cut any player who has gotten into trouble because they got into trouble?

Donahue plays EDGE, which is perhaps the weakest position on this team.  I don’t know how good he is.  I also think he could see jail time.  We will see how that goes.  

[SAR I]

2 hours ago, T0mShane said:

That’s wonderful of ASJ and I hope Donahue gets it figured out

Is it though?

ASJ was a carpetbagging Jet whose media story of "redemption" seems to have overtaken the fact that he didn't play well and blew a few games bobbling TD's into incompletions.  Donahue?  Who?  Why is this even newsworthy?

I'm tired of fabricated Jets feel-good stories.  I'd like some wins please.

SAR I