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Some guys just don't get it.
After an offseason filled with retirements (some staggeringly early), an ushering out of a successful head coach, and a myriad of off-field incidents, wide receiver Jerome Simpson decided he wanted to pump oxygen into the fire. As first reported by Eric Branch of The San Francisco Chronicle, the former Bengals wideout has been suspended for violating the NFL's Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
It's important to note that the suspension was from previous arrests and no new issues, but it just further tarnishes one of the worst offseasons a club has had in recent memory. According to San Francisco General Manager Trent Baalke, "The probability of a suspension was known when we signed Jerome."
Simpson signed a two-year contract with the 49ers this offseason. Simpson was originally selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Simpson played 6 games during his rookie season recording only 1 reception on 3 targets; he played 5 games in 2010 and in 2011 his career began to take off as he played in all 16 games while recording 725 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Simpson has had a track record of involvement with substance abuse issues and/or drug connections. In September of 2011 when he was with the Bengals, authorities found him with a total of 8.5 pounds of marijuana and other paraphernalia, though he wasn't arrested at the time. The following January, Simpson was busted with a felony for having between eight ounces and five pounds of marijuana and spent 15 days in jail. The Bengals opted not to re-sign him after a relatively productive 2011 season and Simpson bolted to Minnesota.
He served a three-game suspension for those issues, but wasn't done. Simpson was busted in 2014 for driving with a suspended license, marijuana possession and driving with an open container. Teams shied away from signing him after the Vikings cut him from that incident, prompting him to not play football in 2014. It's believed this six-game suspension is from the most recent issue that occurred last year.