Jerome Simpson is trending on Twitter right now, and there's definitely good reason for it.
Earlier on Tuesday it was announced that he was suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season due to violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Luckily for Simpson, it didn't hurt his free agency status for long, because the Minnesota Vikings have just signed him to a one-year deal. According to Fox's Jay Glazer:
Vikings have agreed to terms on a one year deal with WR Jerome Simpson. Even tho he's suspended to start the season he's got a lot of talent
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 24, 2012
Glazer's instant analysis of the deal is pretty spot on. The signing obviously comes with a fair amount of trepidation--Simpson is undoubtedly a talented player but he's had difficulty staying out of trouble. If he can stay on the field after his suspension is up and contribute, he's exactly the type of player that the Vikings need--a wide receiver that can stretch the field and make big plays. (Exhibit A: his ridiculous front flip into the end zone last year.)
The move is most likely a calculated risk on the part of the Vikings--it's probably no coincidence that the signing was announced on the heels of the suspension. One would think that the terms of the contract were based on the amount of time that Simpson would miss at the beginning of the season.
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