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Minnesota Vikings And Wide Receiver Jerome Simpson Agree To Terms On A One-Year Deal

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 09:  Wide receiver Jerome Simpson #89 of the the Cincinnati Bengals looks for a penalty against the Jacksonville Jaguars October 9, 2011 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 09: Wide receiver Jerome Simpson #89 of the the Cincinnati Bengals looks for a penalty against the Jacksonville Jaguars October 9, 2011 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Getty Images

According to Jay Glazer with Fox Sports, the Minnesota Vikings and free agent wide receiver Jerome Simpson have agreed to terms on a one-year deal. It was reported earlier on Tuesday morning that Simpson would face a three-game suspension in response to pleading guilty to a felony drug charge earlier this month.

Simpson, after career-year in every statistical category possible, spent the bulk of his first three seasons (by bulk, we mean the first 45 games) struggling for offensive snaps, having to beat out veterans like Chad Ochocinco, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Terrell Owens, Chris Henry, Laveranues Coles -- actually the fact he failed to supplant Laveranues Coles should tell us something -- as well as Jordan Shipley and Andre Caldwell, all of whom with a greater participation than Simpson until game No. 16 against the San Diego Chargers in 2010.

Despite being tremendously athletic, excluding the 45 games he was simply absent, Simpson was spectacularly inconsistent. Sure he posted career numbers in 2011, by definition a breakout season. However he failed to surpass 50 yards receiving in all but four games, was completely shutout during both game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and generated more than three receptions in only seven games.

On the other hand he had his moments this year. In week two against the Denver Broncos, Simpson split the middle of the field on an 84-yard reception, giving him 136 yards receiving on four receptions that afternoon. Against the Ravens in Baltimore, Simpson generated a career-high 152 yards receiving on eight receptions. Both losses.

Here's hoping for the best for Simpson, crawling out of that preverbal hole he dug for himself. But is it a great loss for the Bengals? Let's just say that it's easily recoverable.