Jerome Simpson Jerome Louis Simpson ( born February 4 , 1986 ) is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft . He played college football at Coastal Carolina . Early years . Simpson participated in football , basketball , and track while attending Reidsville High School . As a receiver in football , Simpson was an all - state selection as he led the Rams to consecutive state titles . In his senior season , Simpson won team MVP and set a championship record with 13 receptions for 133 yards and also added a 62 - yard touchdown pass . He missed three games his final season , but still managed to total 96 receptions for 1 , 324 yards and 14 touchdowns , becoming the team ' s all - time receptions leader . He also played in the North Carolina Shrine Bowl and in the East - West annual game . In basketball , Simpson led the Rams to their first state basketball championship since 1995 . As a senior , he scored 19 points in the title game and winning team MVP honors . He also ran on the state champion 4x400 - meter relay team with a time of 3 : 21 in track . Simpson was voted " Most Likely To Become a Professional Athlete " by his graduating class in 2004 . College career . Freshman season . Jerome Simpson enrolled at Coastal Carolina University in 2004 and started all 11 games as a true freshman at receiver . In the season opener against Morehead State , Simpson recorded four catches for 59 yards and two scores in his collegiate debut . The following game , against Davidson , Simpson totaled 89 yards on six receptions for a touchdown . Against Charleston Southern University , Simpson recorded his first ever 100 - yard receiving game . He finished the season with 26 catches for 419 yards and eight touchdowns and was honored as the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year . Sophomore season . Simpson started six out of eleven games as a sophomore . He was named second - team All - Big South and to the South Carolina All - Star Team . He led the team with 33 receptions for 527 yards and nine touchdowns , all single - season school records . In his best game of the season , a victory over James Madison , Simpson set a school record with 10 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns . Against Savannah State , Simpson set another school - record with a 60 - yard reception for a touchdown . Simpson also was a member of the 2006 Big South Men ' s Championship Track and Field squad . He earned All - Big South honors after finished third in the high jump and long jump , setting a new school record for high jump with 2 . 05 meters . Junior season . In 2006 , Simpson started in 10 of 12 games . He was named first - team All - Big South , second - team All - American and South Carolina All - Star selections . Teaming with quarterback Tyler Thigpen , Simpson had 61 receptions for 1 , 077 yards and a Big South record 16 touchdowns , which were also school records . Against Georgia Southern , Simpson set a school record with 207 yards and two scores on only eight receptions . Against No . 3 Furman , he recorded 151 yards and two touchdowns , including the game - winning touchdown reception . In the school ' s first ever NCAA Tournament appearance , Simpson recorded 132 yards and two touchdowns against No . 1 Appalachian State . Simpson led the Big South with five games of 100 yards receiving or more . Simpson again competed in track and field as a junior , finished third in the NCAA Regionals in long jump and qualified for the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships . He was also a part of the 400 - meter relay team that set a school record at the Championships . Senior season . In 2007 , Simpson broke all school career receiving records while playing in all 11 games . He posted 41 receptions for 697 yards and 11 touchdowns , all lower than his junior totals . Professional career . Cincinnati Bengals . Jerome Simpson was selected in the 2nd round , 46th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2008 NFL Draft . He was signed to a four - year contract but did not have any receptions during limited playing time in 2009 . Due to injuries to Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco , Simpson made his second career start in Week 16 of the 2010 season and had a breakout performance , catching 6 passes for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns . He followed it up with 12 catches , 124 yards , and a touchdown in a game against the Baltimore Ravens to end the season with 18 receptions . In Week 16 of the 2011 season , Simpson did a front - flip over Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington to score a touchdown and landed on his feet . This move was also touted to be one of the best plays of the decade and was # 1 on the year ' s top 10 plays . Minnesota Vikings . Simpson signed with the Minnesota Vikings on April 24 , 2012 . The deal is worth $ 2 million over 1 year . He was suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season for violating the NFL ' s substance abuse policy . Simpson re - signed with the Vikings on March 12 , 2013 . < ref >