SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 19 (UPI) — In another deletion from the once prominent San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver Jerome Simpson has been suspended for six games.
The 49ers have lost big since appearing in Super Bowl XLVII just a few years ago.
This off-season alone, the 49ers have lost coach Jim Harbaugh to the University of Michigan, offensive coordinator Greg Roman, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Anthony Davis, Andy Lee, Frank Gore, Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Michael Crabtree, Chris Culliver, Mike Iupati, Chris Borland, and more.
With few off-season additions, the 49ers are down and depleted in a very tough NFC West.
Simpson, who was competing in camp for the No. 3 wide receiver spot, was suspended for “issues he had purportedly before signing” with the 49ers, according to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez.
“I’m just blessed to be with this organization of people that stand behind me, really believe in Jerome Simpson,” Simpson told Gutierrez. “I’m just really committed to proving the people that are behind me right. That I can turn it around and be a success story, and just prove people wrong and use all my natural abilities to go out here and catch this football.”
This isn’t the first time Simpson has sniffed suspension. The Minnesota Vikings cut Simpson while he served a three-game hiatus for a September reckless driving incident. He was previously arrested for marijuana possession, driving with an open container and a violation of license restrictions. Simpson also pleaded guilty to a felony last March, due to 2 pounds of marijuana that was shipped to his Kentucky home in 2011. He also had a November 2013 DUI.
Since being drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Simpson has just 2,008 receiving yards and eight scores on 145 career receptions.
Simpson, 29, can return to the team’s active roster on Oct. 19, but can participate in preseason practices and games.
“The probability of a suspension was known when we signed Jerome,” general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. “Since joining the 49ers, Jerome has proven to be a great teammate. Although he will not be able to participate in the first six weeks of the season, Jerome has done everything asked of him, both on and off the field. We are in full support of the NFL’s decision and look forward to Jerome’s future contributions to our organization.”
