National Football League

Bucs would be better if more players celebrated like Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Published Nov. 10, 2014 6:30 p.m. ET

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TAMPA, Fla. -- The easy reaction to Austin Seferian-Jenkins' Captain Morgan pose in the end zone Sunday and his choice to post a picture of the deed on Instagram with the caption "Everybody has a little captain in them #ItsABucslife" is to ridicule and criticize.

The stunt cost the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 15 yards on the ensuing kickoff, and the Atlanta Falcons answered with a 10-play, 65-yard drive to take the lead for good with about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Certainly, the unsportsmanlike penalty caused some harm. The Bucs can't become a merry band of wanna-be actors, treating each touchdown like it's Saturday night on Broadway.

Still, Seferian-Jenkins should be given more credit than what he has received in the aftermath of his Ode to Captain, the result of a 1-yard touchdown pass from Josh McCown that gave the Bucs a 17-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. The first-year tight end should be praised, not chastised, for showing signs of a heartbeat.

Others on the Bucs should become more like him, not brush aside the display as youthful ignorance.

"It is a teaching moment, though, for a rookie," Bucs coach Lovie Smith said Monday. "You know with rookies, you want to have those teaching moments before something happens out there. We go over the rules, of course, you can't use a prop after a touchdown. When you do it in that situation, it's just not good."

Smith is right to a point, but his perspective has limits. At this time, with the Bucs at 1-8, the rest of the season should be about learning what's inside the 53 men who make up Tampa Bay's active roster.

Who treats losing like a problem to be eradicated, not dismissed as the way things are within a franchise too familiar with defeat since 2008? Who shows passion on the job and refuses to become a ghost on the field?

Austin Seferian-Jenkins' deleted Instagram post.

Who reveals that they care? Who's interested in more than a paycheck?

Seferian-Jenkins, the 38th overall pick, handled Monday well and said he should have shown more maturity in key moments, both in the end zone and at the second he decided posting the picture on Instagram was a good idea. It's a fair bet that he received heat from coaches and a few eye rolls from veteran teammates.

"I shouldn't have posted it," Seferian-Jenkins said. "We're in the middle of a 1-8 season. I can see why people were upset with it for multiple reasons, and the last thing I want to do is put myself in front of the team in any way. I want to let my play do the talking."

Still, Seferian-Jenkins was too hard on himself.

He hardly blends into the background, and he should remain a weapon for years to come. His 6-foot-5, 262-pound frame excited observers in training camp for good reason, and despite the fact that the Washington product has served as the goat in notable gaffes this season -- most visibly, fumbling on the Bucs' first possession of overtime in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8 -- his potential is pleasing. He's Tampa Bay's fifth-leading target with 198 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

More than numbers, though, Seferian-Jenkins' attitude on Sundays is encouraging. A little edge is a basic requirement to make winning a habit, and some of the NFL's best tight ends have shown flair.

Rob Gronkowski did the Royal Guard spike. Jimmy Graham had his goal-post dunks. Both players have two Pro Bowl appearances each, and neither are passive parts of their respective franchise's offensive plans.

The Bucs under Smith, of course, have lacked the attitude necessary to make the most of an awful year within the NFC South. Attitude is a product of confidence in collective and individual ability. It's clear that Tampa Bay needs a jolt from someone, anyone, no matter if it's a player or a coach.

Seferian-Jenkins was wrong only in the sense that his celebration didn't jive with a rule that's ridiculous to begin with. His Instagram post, in time, will be considered harmless and fade into a virtual abyss.

Above all, Seferian-Jenkins should never alter the approach to his role in a misguided attempt to adapt, and judging by his tweets published Monday that read "So petty ha" and "I like to have fun ! I am fun guy ! Lol," that should not be a problem. He has an independent mind.

"Being emotional, you need to have emotion out there on the field sometimes, because if you're playing the game with a blank face, I don't know why you're playing," Seferian-Jenkins said. "This is a very physical game, it's a very rough game, a violent game. You've got to smile and have some fun and be emotional about it. That's the only way I know how to play."

Sunday, that way earned him ridicule from some fans and a spot in Smith's doghouse. So be it.

Seferian-Jenkins should remain true to who he is, even if his persona draws criticism from a stodgy audience. The Bucs need more life, and he's willing to provide a spark in what has become a dull fall.

You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.

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