Earlier on Thursday Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson was indicted by a grand jury for one count of trafficking marijuana. The incident dates back to September when authorities tracked 2.5 pounds of marijuana to Simpson's home, where they discovered another six pounds, along with supplies that posed the possibility that the home could have been used for distribution.
According to Jim Hannah with the Cincinnati Enquirer:
Prosecutors have requested Simpson be served a summons to appear in Kenton Circuit Court. His arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 30. The charge is punishable by one to five years in prison.
However if convicted, Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders told WLWT that since "Simpson has been cooperative in the investigation and would be eligible for a diversion program", he could see significant reduction in his incarceration (if not avoided entirely).
Simpson will be an unrestricted free agent by early March. But whatever possibility of his return was probably demolished on Thursday.