New York, NY – The National Football League has suspended Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson for three games, and fined him an additional game paycheck, for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
"Simpson will be eligible to return to the Vikings' active roster on Monday, September 24 following the team's September 23 game against the San Francisco 49ers. Simpson is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games," read a statement issued by an NFL spokesperson on Monday afternoon.
Simpson had a career year with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011, recording 50 receptions for 725 yards and four touchdowns. He parlayed it into a free- agent deal with Minnesota back in late April.
Earlier that month, a Kentucky judge sentenced the 26-year-old Simpson to 15 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge.
In September, police confiscated a package containing 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana that was being shipped from California to Simpson's Kentucky home. A woman accepted the package and Simpson was discovered inside along with teammate Anthony Collins.
The Coastal Carolina product, who had arguably the touchdown of the year last season after he somersaulted over Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington on Christmas Eve, has 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns over the course of his four years in Cincinnati.
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