Jerome Simpson

Jerome Louis Simpson (born February 4, 1986) is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Coastal Carolina.

Early years
Simpson participated in football, basketball, and track while attending Reidsville High School. As a receiver in football, Simpson was an all-state selection as he led the Rams to consecutive state titles. In his senior season, Simpson won team MVP and set a championship record with 13 receptions for 133 yards and also added a 62-yard touchdown pass. He missed three games his final season, but still managed to total 96 receptions for 1,324 yards and 14 touchdowns, becoming the team's all-time receptions leader. He also played in the North Carolina Shrine Bowl and in the East-West annual game.

In basketball, Simpson led the Rams to their first state basketball championship since 1995. As a senior, he scored 19 points in the title game and winning team MVP honors. He also ran on the state champion 4x400-meter relay team with a time of 3:21 in track.

Simpson was voted "Most Likely To Become a Professional Athlete" by his graduating class in 2004.

Freshman season
Jerome Simpson enrolled at Coastal Carolina University in 2004 and started all 11 games as a true freshman at receiver. In the season opener against Morehead State, Simpson recorded four catches for 59 yards and two scores in his collegiate debut. The following game, against Davidson, Simpson totaled 89 yards on six receptions for a touchdown. Against Charleston Southern University, Simpson recorded his first ever 100-yard receiving game. He finished the season with 26 catches for 419 yards and eight touchdowns and was honored as the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year.

Sophomore season
Simpson started six out of eleven games as a sophomore. He was named second-team All-Big South and to the South Carolina All-Star Team. He led the team with 33 receptions for 527 yards and nine touchdowns, all single-season school records. In his best game of the season, a victory over James Madison, Simpson set a school record with 10 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Against Savannah State, Simpson set another school-record with a 60-yard reception for a touchdown.

Simpson also was a member of the 2006 Big South Men's Championship Track and Field squad. He earned All-Big South honors after finished third in the high jump and long jump, setting a new school record for high jump with 2.05 meters.

Junior season
In 2006, Simpson started in 10 of 12 games. He was named first-team All-Big South, second-team All-American and South Carolina All-Star selections. Teaming with quarterback Tyler Thigpen, Simpson had 61 receptions for 1,077 yards and a Big South record 16 touchdowns, which were also school records. Against Georgia Southern, Simpson set a school record with 207 yards and two scores on only eight receptions. Against No. 3 Furman, he recorded 151 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown reception. In the school's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance, Simpson recorded 132 yards and two touchdowns against No. 1 Appalachian State. Simpson led the Big South with five games of 100 yards receiving or more.

Simpson again competed in track and field as a junior, finished third in the NCAA Regionals in long jump and qualified for the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He was also a part of the 400-meter relay team that set a school record at the Championships.

Senior season
In 2007, Simpson broke all school career receiving records while playing in all 11 games. He posted 41 receptions for 697 yards and 11 touchdowns, all lower than his junior totals.

Cincinnati Bengals
Jerome Simpson was selected in the 2nd round, 46th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was signed to a four-year contract but did not have any receptions during limited playing time in 2009. Due to injuries to Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, Simpson made his second career start in Week 16 of the 2010 season and had a breakout performance, catching 6 passes for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns. He followed it up with 12 catches, 124 yards, and a touchdown in a game against the Baltimore Ravens to end the season with 18 receptions.

In Week 16 of the 2011 season, Simpson did a front-flip over Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington to score a touchdown and landed on his feet. This move was also touted to be one of the best plays of the decade and was #1 on the year's top 10 plays.

Minnesota Vikings
Simpson signed with the Minnesota Vikings on April 24, 2012. The deal is worth $2 million over 1 year. He was suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Simpson re-signed with the Vikings on March 12, 2013.

Police Investigation
In September 2011, police searched Simpson's Crestview Hills, Kentucky townhome after intercepting a package to be delivered to his home containing 2.5 pounds of marijuana. When police arrived at Simpson's home, he allowed them to search his home. Upon searching the home, the police found 6 more pounds of marijuana, scales, empty packages similar to the one intercepted by the police. Simpson's teammate Anthony Collins and his wife were at the residence and were also questioned by the police. No arrests were made. On January 19, 2012, Simpson was indicted in Covington, Kentucky for "Trafficking in more than eight ounces and less than five pounds of marijuana", a Class D felony, which carries a 1 to 5 year prison sentence if convicted. The NFL has stated it will wait until the police investigation is completed to decide if it will discipline Simpson. On April 5, 2012, Simpson was sentenced to 15 days in jail, 200 hours of community service, and 3 years probation. He will also have to undergo drug testing and pay a $7,500 fine plus court costs.