Former Florida defensive end Jachai Polite was surprisingly one of the victims of the New York Jets cutting their roster down to 53 players heading into the season. A third-round pick in this year’s NFL draft, Polite was expected to become a contributing member of the Jets defense as a rookie. Instead, he is looking for an opportunity to see the field after being signed to the Seahawks practice squad.

The former Gator was fined more than $100,000 by the Jets during the preseason for violation of team rules, the New York Post reported. Florida coach Dan Mullen seemed not surprised by that.

“He was late for us before, too,” Mullen revealed Wednesday when asked for a response to Polite’s reported issues with tardiness in New York.

Stating that he liked Polite and was disappointed with the news that he had been cut by the Jets, Mullen went on about how it takes everything you have to become one of the 53 guys to suit up for an NFL team on Sundays.

“Obviously, getting to the next level, there’s multiple phases of doing that,” Mullen said. “Are you talented enough? Are you physically prepared? Are you mentally prepared? How is your work ethic and demeanor on a daily basis? Are you prepared to go perform at that level? It’s a very different deal.

“I don’t know. It’ll be interesting. I haven’t gotten to speak with him, but I feel bad that it turned out that way. He’s got talent. Maybe he’ll find a way to refocus and get those things (sorted out). The development he missed by not coming back this year, maybe he can find that on the practice squad.”