EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings are no strangers to attention-grabbing wide receivers, and they added another to the mix Tuesday morning, agreeing to terms with former Cincinnati Bengals Jerome Simpson on a one-year deal.
FOX Sports' Jay Glazer first tweeted the news.
Simpson, 26, became a highlight sensation when he jumped high in the air and flipped head-over-feet over a defender to score a touchdown last season for the Bengals. Simpson, 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, finished last season with 50 catches for 725 yards and four touchdowns in 14 starts for Cincinnati.
The Bengals' second-round draft pick in 2008, Simpson reportedly is facing a three-game suspension after pleading guilty to a felony drug charge. He was indicted for marijuana trafficking after receiving a shipment of about two pounds of marijuana at his home in Kentucky. In a plea agreement, the case was reduced to a prohibited act relating to controlled substances.
The Vikings, who have also had receivers Randy Moss and Bernard Berrian catch undesirable headlines in recent years, needed a downfield threat at wide receiver to complement the underneath ability of top receiver Percy Harvin and sure-handed veteran Michael Jenkins.
Minnesota is reportedly considering receiver Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State with its third overall pick in Thursday's NFL draft. Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has said the team is deciding between Blackmon, Southern California left tackle Matt Kalil and Louisiana State cornerback Morris Claiborne.
Spielman is scheduled to speak with the media later Tuesday.
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