Minnesota Vikings WR Jerome Simpson ready redeem himself in 2012-13 season - NFL News
Wide receiver, Jerome Simpson is another Minnesota Vikings player who had a run-in with the law last season.
Simpson pleaded guilty to charges of having two pounds of marijuana delivered to his home and served 15 days in jail after a court convicted him of the offence.
He now has a second chance to correct himself and deliver on his undoubted potential with the Vikings who gave him another opportunity to redeem himself on the field.
The Vikings gave the 26-year-old a one year contract worth approximately $ 2 million and now Simpson is ready to prove that their confidence was not unfounded.
Speaking to Fox Sports North he said.
"Whatever role that this team has for me, I'm going to fulfill it and go above and beyond. It's absolutely a 'prove it' (season) just because the nature of that I did get in trouble last year and I have to prove to the league, myself and everybody else out
there that I deserve to be in this league. And I deserve to be in this league."
He thanked the Vikings for having faith in him.
"Yes, it is because this organization, they believed in me and I'm just blessed to have the opportunity to come back and play football again,"
The wide receiver will not be available to play for the first three games of the season as he serves a suspension from the National Football League (NFL) for his felony.
Even with the possibility of serving jail time, Simpson did not let his off-the-field issues affect his game with the Cincinnati Bengals as he put up some of the best numbers of his career last year.
The wide receiver made 50 receptions for a gain of 725-yards and scored four touchdowns for the Bengals as he helped them to a wild card playoff berth and a 9-7 regular season record.
The Vikings ended last season with a poor 3-13 record.
This year though the Vikings have made some astute picks in the draft and are looking forward for a better 2012-13 season.
The Vikings are targeting to reach the playoffs this year and will need Simpson to continue his good form and help them achieve that goal.
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